reremayne

Middle English

Etymology

Probably from Anglo-Norman reremein, variant of areremein, from arere (“back, backwards”) + main (“hand”).

Noun

reremayne (plural reremaynes)

  1. A blow with the back of the hand.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XIX:
      Sir Launcelot lepe to hym and gaff hym backwarde with hys gauntelot a reremayne that he felle to the erthe starke dede.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants
  • English: reredemain
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.