Jousten

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To engage in a mounted combat with lances, as knights once did in a contest of skill and courage
2. Archaic verb meaning to clash on horseback with a lance in a formal tournament between armoured riders
3. To tilt against an opponent on horseback with a spear, a sport of medieval knights and their competitions

Etymology: This is the Middle English infinitive of "joust," meaning "to fight on horseback with lances," with the older "-en" ending. The verb came into English from Old French "jouster," which in turn grew from Late Latin "juxtare," meaning "to bring together" or "to approach." That Latin verb rests on "juxta," "near" or "beside," so the core idea is two riders coming close to each other, a meaning that the mock combat of medieval tournaments made literal.