main defer (mandefer)

[F.: main, hand; de, of; fer, iron.) A defensive appliance for the hand and arm used in the tournaments and tilting-matches of the sixteenth century. Especially - (a) A solid piece of iron extending from the elbow-joint to the tips of the fingers of the left arm, Main-de-fer. like a shield, to protect that part of the arm which was not covered by the tilting-shield. The hand behind it was free to hold the reins, being clothed in a simple glove of leather or similar material. (b) A gauntlet for the right hand, fastening with hook and staple or the like, so that the hand could not be opened, nor the weapon grasped in it be dislodged. Maine law. See law1. maine-port (mān'port), n. In old Eng. law, a small duty or tribute, commonly of loaves of bread, which in some places the parishioners brought to the rector in lieu of small tithes. mainfult (man'fül), a. [ forward of the mainmast. script, etc., manure, manœuver, mainor, aman uensis, etc., mainprise, mainpernor, maintain, etc.] 1. A hand. Saynt Elyn hit made with noble mayne. Political Poems , etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 130. 2t. A hand at dice; a throw of the dice at hazard. Were it good To set the exact wealth of all our states All at one cast? to set so rich a main On the nice hazard of one doubtful hour? Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iv. 1. 47. First a maine at dice, and then weele eate. Marston, What you Will, iv. 1. 3. A match at cock-fighting. of the amusement, appears to have been exclusively Eng lish, and of modern origin. In this game as many as sixteen cocks were sometimes matched against each other at each side, and they fought till all on one side were killed. Welch main , which was most sanguinary The victors were then divided and fought, and the proce was repeated till but a single cock remained. Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent., iv. 600. 4. A banker's shovel for coin.