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🐢 A turtle's underside 🛡️ A metal breastplate 👔 A shirt panel 🤺 A chest pad
plastron

plastron

1 9.9
A metal breastplate worn under chain mail to protect the chest
  • noun
  • /ˈplæstrən/
  • Archaic
: coraza
  • The knight wore a plastron under his mail to protect himself in battle.

Examples

  • During the museum tour, the guide pointed out a medieval plastron used by soldiers.

  • The knight wore a plastron under his armor.

  • Historians believe the plastron was essential for absorbing the force of sword strikes.

  • A plastron is essential for historical reenactors.

  • The knight wore a plastron beneath his chainmail for extra protection during battle.

  • During the historical reenactment, the soldiers demonstrated how to don a plastron as part of their armor.

  • In the armory, the guide displayed a plastron that was used in medieval combat.

Synonyms

breastplate
vsplastron
7 9.2

A piece of metal armor that covers the chest

is a metal version worn under a coat of mail in historical armor

How Protective

plastron
  • Archaic
1 9.9
hardshell
1 3.7
shoulder pad
6 2.9
padding
29 2.7

Surface Forms

plastron singular
plastrons plural

Etymology

Plastron comes from French and Italian words meaning 'plate' or 'flat piece'. That is why the word was used for a metal 'breastplate' worn under mail, and a plastron means a metal plate that protects the chest.