marteaux

English

Noun

marteaux

1. plural of marteau

Noun

marteaux (uncountable)

1. (historical) A game played at court in the 15th and 16th centuries, involving marble-sized variously colored ivory balls and a board with holes.
   • 1845, ‎John Allen Giles, The chronicles of the white rose of York, page 147:

     After he had supped the King had him brought immediately to the Queen's own chamber, where she and her ladies were playing at the marteaux; and some of her ladies were playing at closheys of ivory, and dancing , and some at divers other games: the which sight was full pleasant to them.

   • 1875, William Harrison Ainsworth, The Goldsmith's Wife, page 13:

     In another part of the room three or four middle-aged dames, who acted as governesses to the young princesses, were seated at a table playing at marteaux — a game in which little ivory balls were placed in the holes of a board — with the two tutors of the young princes .

   • 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 40:

     Louis, the Governor of Holland, was led to Queen Elizabeth's rooms where he found her and her ladies-in-waiting playing marteaux ― a game like bowls ― and throwing balls at ivory pins.

   • 2022, Mary Roberts, Ruins and Old Trees:

     The queen is playing now with her ladies at a courtly game called the marteaux, while others are amusing themselves as best befits them, according to the fashion of the times.

French

Pronunciation

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Noun

marteaux m

1. plural of marteau