joust

[joust, juhst, joost]

noun

1. a combat in which two knights on horseback attempted to unhorse each other with blunted lances.

2. this type of combat fought in a highly formalized manner as part of a tournament.

3. jousts, a tournament.

4. a personal competition or struggle.

verb (used without object)

1. to contend in a joust or tournament.

2. to contend, compete, or struggle.

   The candidates will joust in a television debate.

joust

/ dʒaʊst /

noun

1. a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with lances. A tournament consisted of a series of such engagements

verb

1. (intr; often foll by against or with) to encounter or engage in such a tournament

   he jousted with five opponents

Other Word Forms

• jouster noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of joust¹

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English justen, jousten < Old French juster, joster, jouster to tilt in the lists < Vulgar Latin *juxtāre to approach, clash, derivative of Latin juxtā approaching, bordering; (noun) Middle English juste, jouste < Old French juste, etc., derivative of juster

Word History and Origins

Origin of joust¹

C13: from Old French jouste, from jouster to fight on horseback, from Vulgar Latin juxtāre (unattested) to come together, from Latin juxtā close

Example Sentences

“One of them’s bound to be suitable. Whoops! Easy, there, Tim! Mind your ladder, unless you want to try your hand at a bit of jousting.”

Read more on Literature

The governor won viral fame, guest spots on late-night shows and millions of dollars from Democratic donors around the country delighted to see someone jousting with the president.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Recently, one pair of cosmic dancers has turned astronomer’s heads by performing a very dangerous routine — which they’ve nicknamed the cosmic joust!

Read more on Space Scoop

Evenings at the Breach House are not all make-out sessions, literary jousting and pizza.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fleetwood and Thomas jousted through the back nine and also made it to the last all square.

Read more on BBC