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

plastron

9.9
A metal breastplate worn under chain mail to protect the chest
  • noun
  • /ˈplæstrən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : 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
9.9
hardshell
3.7
shoulder pad
12 2.9
padding
25 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.