Chanson de geste \Chan`son" de geste"\ [F., prop., song of
history.]
Any Old French epic poem having for its subject events or
exploits of early French history, real or legendary, and
written originally in assonant verse of ten or twelve
syllables. The most famous one is the {Chanson de Roland}.
Langtoft had written in the ordinary measure of the
later chansons de geste. --Saintsbury.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]