noun
joust
jowst
noun
1
A contest in which two mounted knights charge at each other with lances.
"The festival featured a re-enactment of a medieval joust."
verb
1
To fight on horseback with lances, as knights did.
"The two knights jousted before the king."
2
To argue or compete sharply with someone, especially in a public exchange.
"The two politicians jousted over the budget on live television."
How to Use Joust
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA knightly lance fight, or figuratively a heated verbal contest.
Common pairings
joust with lances
verbal joust
a jousting match
Word Forms
jousted past tense, jousts plural, jousts singular
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The festival featured a re-enactment of a medieval _____.
Etymology
From Old French jouster, ultimately from Latin iuxta ("close to, next to") — describing two riders coming together.