Siege Perilous

American  

[seej per-uh-luhs] / ˈsidʒ ˈpɛr ə ləs /

noun

1. Arthurian Legend.  a vacant seat at the Round Table that could be filled only by the predestined finder of the Holy Grail and was fatal to pretenders.

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Siege Perilous British  

noun

1. (in Arthurian legend) the seat at the Round Table that could be filled only by the knight destined to find the Holy Grail and that was fatal to anyone else

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Etymology

Origin of Siege Perilous

First recorded in 1425–75; from Old French siege perilleus “dangerous seat”; siege ( def. ), perilous ( def. )

Example Sentences

Shortly after being beaten down by a group of cyborg supervillains, a number of the heroes enter a mirror-like portal called the Siege Perilous.

From Washington Post

The chair vacated by Lancelot is called the Siege Perilous, and Arthur had apparently never found anyone worthy enough to sit at the table in his chair since his betrayal.

From Los Angeles Times

But upon one seat was found written, "This is the Siege Perilous, wherein if any man shall sit save him whom Heaven hath chosen, he shall be devoured by fire."

From Project Gutenberg

"He is a noble steed indeed, fair sir," she said; "and worthy of a knight fitting to sit in the Siege Perilous."

From Project Gutenberg

It will be my business, and, I will add, my pleasure,' he continued with a lofty air which sat drolly enough upon him in his yellow duds, 'to conduct you to the Siege Perilous.

From Project Gutenberg