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main de fer. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
main de fer, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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English
Etymology
Middle English mayndefer, from Middle French main de fer (literally “hand of iron”).
Noun
main de fer (plural mains de fer)
- (uncommon, historical, obsolete) Alternative form of manifer (“gauntlet for jousting”)
- 1522 March, record, in 1867, Calendar of state papers, pages 1557-8: also in 2015, J. S. Brewer, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, Cambridge University Press (→ISBN), page 1557-8:
- 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.
1901, Hedley Peek, Frederick George Aflalo, The Encyclopædia of Sport: SAND-Z, page 398, caption on an image: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.
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:main de fer.
French
Pronunciation
Noun
main de fer f (plural mains de fer)
- (figurative) iron fist
- d’une main de fer ― with an iron fist
- (historical, possibly obsolete) manifer (“gauntlet for jousting”)
1883, Bulletin du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques, page 99:Les articles réservés aux armures de joute (no 1-2) mentionnent des pièces d’armure de fer, des vêtements, des armes ou […] 1 gantier d’acier (5); 5 mains de fer (6); 3 paires de harnais de jambes, grèves et cuissots, plus […]- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
1885, E. van Vinkeroy, Catalogue des armes et armures, page 73:Le brassard gauche, plus exposé aux chocs que le droit, porte une solide rondelle de coude et la lourde main de fer, que nous appelons «mitoñ de joute». Les doigts ne sont pas séparés, pour fournir une meilleure défense.- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
1898, Bulletin historique et philologique du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques, page 72:[151] Pour une espaule de mouthon(3) ... cv s.
[152] Pour une main de fer(4) ... cv s.
[153] Pour seze rondelles(5) de lames ... xlix l. […]
(4) "Main de fer", sorte de miton […]- (please add an English translation of this quotation)