Medieval Words and Concepts Trivia Quiz

An aubade is the opposite of a serenade, in that it is a love song sung in the morning, most particularly to a sleeping woman as her lover leaves her bedside.

The image of a couple on the beach at sunrise approximates the romance implied in the singing of an aubade.

Not to be confused with a palanquin, a kind of litter whose name comes from the Sanskrit word for bed, a balanquin was a form of tapestry featuring silk and gold. The word seems to derive from a Spanish word (with an accent on the i) and/or the Portuguese balanquinho.

The image is of a tapestry, not necessarily a balanquin.

A carbuncle is an obsolete word for a red gemstone, often a red garnet (pictured). While the word carbuncle is also used to describe a boil-like abscess, this painful condition is not described as 'red and radiant'.

The Cathari were a religious sect that held to a doctrine of good v. evil dualism, who were in opposition to contemporary Christian teachings. They flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries, and believed the material world to be evil.

The image depicts a book burning, of Cathar texts and those of Saint Dominic. Only the latter's survived the fire, proving to the judges that the Cathar teachings were inferior.

The term conge referred to a deep bow or curtsy, often performed as one of the steps in a formal dance. The word itself began as the Latin commeatus, "permission to leave" passing through Old French to the Middle English congie, thence to conge.

The couple pictured might not be dancing, but definitely illustrate the word.

Dinanderie is a type of metalwork, particularly in brass or copper, that was popular in medieval Britain. The name stems from the town of Dinant, Belgium.

The brass plate pictured is not necessarily dinanderie, but is meant only as a representation.

In modern usage, to earmark something is to set it aside or designate it for some purpose. In medieval times (and earlier) to earmark literally meant to mark the ear of livestock, like cattle or swine, to indicate ownership.

The animal pictured doesn't have a visible marking, as did many of the images I found, as I didn't want to make the question too much of a giveaway.

The word fitchet (or fitchew) referred to a ferret or polecat, and by extension to the fur of those animals, used to trim coats and other garments.

The painting depicts a man circa 1540, wearing a fur-trimmed coat.

Easter was celebrated as the Feast of Feasts in medieval times, as it still is in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches. Later thinking has given that title to the nativity (Christmas).

The photo of crosses should have suggested Easter.

Before the term moustache was adopted for the hair on the upper lip, this item was referred to by various names, including simply "beard on the upper lip", "hereliste" and "kemp". The latter word came from Old English "cenep" and also came to mean "rough hair".

The moustache pictured is a fairly ornate variety.