ESTRIF

A form of poem, popular in the 13c particularly, which took the form of a debate, often between unlikely pairings. For example, The Owl and the Nightingale, The Thrush and the Nightingale, The Fox and the Wolf. They were popular in France and also in England, where they were also known as 'strif'. Such dramatic dialogues can be seen as precursors of English drama and theatre in the 16c. [< OldFr. estriver = to strive, quarrel, argue]