Medieval English Terms

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Date:

Instructions: Journey back to the Middle Ages with these words from medieval England (5th-15th century)

1.
In medieval England, what was a 'sennight'?
A
An evening feast
B
A knight's squire
C
A senior nobleman
D
A period of seven nights (one week)
2.
What was a 'bailey' in medieval architecture?
A
A kitchen servant
B
A church bell tower
C
A type of drawbridge
D
The enclosed courtyard of a castle
3.
What did 'tithe' mean in medieval times?
A
A knight's oath
B
A feudal title
C
A type of grain
D
A one-tenth tax paid to the church
4.
In medieval society, what was a 'villein'?
A
A criminal or villain
B
A town mayor
C
A foreign merchant
D
A feudal tenant bound to the lord's land
5.
What was a 'palfrey' in the Middle Ages?
A
A type of saddle
B
A suit of armor
C
A light riding horse for everyday travel
D
A falcon used in hunting
6.
What did 'hauberk' refer to in medieval times?
A
A drinking vessel
B
A siege weapon
C
A nobleman's estate
D
A type of coat of mail armor
7.
In medieval England, what was a 'minstrel'?
A
A type of church building
B
A minor nobleman
C
A traveling musician and entertainer
D
A religious manuscript
8.
What was 'mead' in the medieval period?
A
An alcoholic drink made from fermented honey
B
A type of bread
C
A leather garment
D
A meadow for grazing
9.
What did the medieval term 'fortnight' mean?
A
A period of fourteen nights (two weeks)
B
A type of military formation
C
A castle's defensive wall
D
The night watch shift
10.
In medieval England, what was a 'reeve'?
A
A type of plow
B
A heavy rope used in construction
C
An official who managed an estate or district
D
A traveling merchant
11.
What was a 'destrier' in the Middle Ages?
A
A royal decree
B
A type of crossbow
C
A warhorse trained for battle
D
A siege tower
12.
What did 'garderobe' mean in a medieval castle?
A
The armory
B
The great hall
C
A wardrobe for clothes
D
A privy or toilet
13.
In medieval terms, what was a 'guild'?
A
A royal court session
B
An association of craftsmen or merchants
C
A type of gold coin
D
A religious pilgrimage
14.
What was a 'trebuchet' in the Middle Ages?
A
A musical instrument
B
A type of bridge
C
A tax collector's ledger
D
A siege engine for hurling projectiles
15.
What did 'fief' mean in the medieval feudal system?
A
An estate of land granted by a lord
B
A type of weapon
C
A royal feast
D
A serf's hut

Answer Key

Question 1

D. A period of seven nights (one week)

Question 2

D. The enclosed courtyard of a castle

Question 3

D. A one-tenth tax paid to the church

Question 4

D. A feudal tenant bound to the lord's land

Question 5

C. A light riding horse for everyday travel

Question 6

D. A type of coat of mail armor

Question 7

C. A traveling musician and entertainer

Question 8

A. An alcoholic drink made from fermented honey

Question 9

A. A period of fourteen nights (two weeks)

Question 10

C. An official who managed an estate or district

Question 11

C. A warhorse trained for battle

Question 12

D. A privy or toilet

Question 13

B. An association of craftsmen or merchants

Question 14

D. A siege engine for hurling projectiles

Question 15

A. An estate of land granted by a lord

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