Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

main de fer

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.05 in modern English

Syllables: main de fer
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

1

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Alternative form of manifer (“gauntlet for jousting”).

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"[…] 181 yds. yellow satin, at 8s., for bordering the 4 gentlemen's bards and bases; 3 yds. crimson satin, at 9s., for lining a headpiece, a pasguard, a main de fer and 2 gauntlets; 1 yd. white sarsnet, for girdles, 3s."
"Armour of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, with the Grand-guard, Pasguard, and Main de fer for the tilt. This armour, now in the Tower of London, was made 1566-1588."

Etymology

From Middle English mayndefer, from Middle French main de fer (literally “hand of iron”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: mayndefer, main de fer

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

mains de fer (plural)

Questions

What does main de fer mean?: Alternative form of manifer (“gauntlet for jousting”).
Where does main de fer come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce main de fer

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