Never quite knew what that phrase meant...I just knew it had something to do with being completely batty.  Well, I guess I tilt at windmills everyday then!  Seriously, the word tilt is actually a synonym of the word joust.  It's an Old French/Latin term that means "to approach, to meet."  So jousting is where two armour-clad horsemen with lances ride toward each other at high speed, attempting to strike the opponent's sheild and either break the lance or unhorse the rival.

EARLY MIDDLE AGES 5th to 10th centuries\ HIGH MIDDLE AGES 11th, 12th, 13th \  LATE MIDDLE AGES end by 1500

Emerging in the High Middle Ages from the military use of lances in heavy cavalry, it was transformed into a specialized sport during the Late Middle Ages and remained popular with both English and German nobility throughout the 16th century (France outlawed it in the 1500's due to a horrible royal accident).  In England, jousting was the cat's meow @ the Accession Day tilts of Elizabeth 1 and James 1.

Ahhhhhh, thus Tilting at Windmills!  From the story of Don Quixote and his mission to fight injustice through chivalry, he thought a plain of windmills from afar looked like hulking monsters to be slain.  Been there, done that.  Then I took Prozac!

If you'd like to experience a modern day revival of jousting, then be listening every day this week at 11:35 to win my lunchbox for a family 4 pack to MEDIEVAL TIMES at Discover Mills in Lawrenceville.  I haven't been yet, but my co-workers raved about it when they went last week.  Good luck!

Eat, Drink, and be Merry!   and Know You're Loved, Jg