Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
gorget

gorget

1 9.9
A metal piece that protects the neck, worn by knights in battle
  • noun
  • /ˈɡɔrdʒɪt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : gorguera
  • He ducked inside, snapping on his gorget and grabbing up the boar spear.
  • shell gorget

Examples

  • Before entering the tournament, he carefully adjusted his gorget to ensure it was in place.

  • He fixed the gorget about his neck, knowing leopards went for the throat.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • So yeah, this is the gorget, the neck protector.

  • Pulling on his mail shirt, he fixed his gorget around his throat and struggled into his boots.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • D'Cey stripped off his gorget, silk surcoat, and chain mail to get at his clean linen shirt.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • He wore the half-armor of a light horseman gorget, cuirass, steel gauntlets, mail sleeves, and plate tassets on his thighs.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The knight fastened his gorget securely to protect his throat in battle.

  • The historical reenactors wore authentic attire, including a polished metal gorget to shield their necks.

How Protective

breastplate
7 9.2
gorget
  • Archaic
1 9.9
neck brace
  • Specialized
7 3.8

Surface Forms

gorget singular
gorgets plural

Morphology

gorget = gorge (semi-transparent) = gorge + et

The meaning relates to 'gorge' (throat), but that throat sense is archaic and the suffix '-et' is a non-productive French diminutive, so learners may not predict the meaning reliably.

Etymology

The word gorget comes from an old French word gorge that means 'throat', so it first meant a small piece of armor that covered and protected the neck.