reremayne

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.

Descendants

• English: reredemain