Glossary.

O

Oberarmzeng

(G) rerebrace.

Occlarium

the eye-slit in the helm.

Oreilettes

ear-pieces, found in the later forms of the casque and burgonet.

Orle

the wreath or twisted scarf worn on the helmet immediately beneath the crest.

Oriflamme

the ancient banner of the Abbey of S. Denis used by the kings of France.

Ospergum

see hauberk.

Ottone

(I) brass or latten, used for edging armor.

P

Paefustum

a battle-axe.

Palet

a small skull-cap of cuir bouilly or steel.

Palettes

circular plates to protect the armpits.

Panart

(OF) a large knife.

Panache

(F) the plumes of feathers on the helmet.

Panzer

body-armor.

Panziera

(I) see codpiece.

Parement

a surcoat or ceremonial dress of rich fabric.

Parma

(I) a small shield or buckler.

Partigiana

(I) a long-shafted weapon with broad-pointed blade, similar to the pike and halberd.

Partizan

a long-shafted weapon with broad-pointed blade, similar to the pike and halberd.

Parlet

(OE) gorget.

Pas d'ane

(F) loops of bar steel immediately over the cross-hilt of the sword.

Pasguard

a reinforcing piece for the left elbow, used in tilting.

Passadoux

a Gascan arrow.

Passe

the rack for stringing the crossbow.

Passot

(OF) a dagger.

Patelet

a padded vest worn under armor.

Patrel

see poitrel

Patron

a case for pistol charges.

Patula

a short sword or dagger.

Pauldrons

shoulder-pieces of plate armor.

Pavade

a long dagger.

Pavache

(F) a shield used by bowmen.

Pavesche

a shield used by bowmen.

Pavise

a shield used by bowmen.

Pavois d'assout

(OF) a shield used by bowmen.

Pavon

a large triangular flag.

Peascod

a form of breastplate made with a central ridge, and pointed slightly downward at the lower extremity.

Pectoral

a breast defense of mail. See peytral.

Pell, pill

a sharpened stake used by Norman peasants.

Pellegrina di maglia

(I) mail cape or collar.

Pennacchiera

(I) see porte panache.

Penacho

(S) see porte panache.

Pennon

a pointed banner used by knights bachelor and esquires.

Pentina

(OI) a short pike.

Pertuisan

(F) partizan.

Peto

(S) breastplate.

Petail matres

a large-headed dart or arrow.

Petronel

a short firearm fired with a flint or pyrites.

Pettiera

(I) see peytral.

Petto

(I) breastplate.

Peytral

the breastplate of a horse.

Perzonaras

(S) see bossiers.

Pfeifenharnisch

(G) embossed armor to imitate puffed silk or velvet.

Pheon

a barbed javelin used by the sergeant-at-arms.

Picca

(I) see pike.

Piciere

(F) see peytral.

Pieces of advantage

reinforcing pieces for the joust.

Pied de biche

(F) see goat's-foot lever.

Pied de chevre

a crowbar.

Pike

a long-shafted weapon used by footmen only. It had a lance-like head, and was shod at the butt-end with iron for fixing in the ground to receive cavalry.

Pike-guard

a ridge of metal set upright on the pauldrons, on the left side.

Pile

the head of the arrow.

Pistolese

a large dagger or knife.

Pizane

(F) breastplate.

Placard

a reinforcing breastplate.

Placcate

a reinforcing breastplate.

Plater

the maker of armor plates as distinct from the armorer who made th plates into armor.

Platner

(G) armorer.

Plastron

the upper portion of the cuirass when it is formed of two pieces.

Plastron-de-fer

a defense of plate, usually circular worn on the breast under or over the hauberk.

Plates, pair of

back and breastplate.

Platine

(F) the lock of a firelock.

Plommee

(F) a leaden mace; also holy-water sprinkle.

Poignard

a dagger.

Poincon

the stamp or trademark of the armorer.

Points

laces for securing the gussets of mail to the undergarment, and also the lambrequin to the left breast.

Poire

(F) a pear-shaped button through which the laces passed that held the shield to the helm.

Poitrel

breast-armor for the horse.

Poldermitten

a defense for the inner bend of the right arm, used in the joust.

Pole-axe

a long-shafted axe with beak and spear point.

Poleyns

see knee-cops.

Polion

unknown part of the crossbow.

Pommel

the finishing knob of the sword-grip; also the fore peak of the saddle.

Pompes

see knee-cops.

Pontale

the shape of a sword or dagger; also the tag on an arming-point or lance.

Porte-panache

(F) the plume-holder on the helmet.

Posolino

(I) see croupiere.

Pot

a broad-brimmed helmet worn by pikemen.

Poulaine A la

sollerets with extremely pointed toes.

Pourpoint

a padded and quilted garment of leather or linen.

pourpointerie

quilted material with metal studs at the intersection of the quilting seams.

Pryke-spear

a spur with a single point and no rowel.

Pugio

(I) a small dagger.

Pugnale

(I) a small dagger.

Pully-pieces

see knee-cops.

putty-pieces

see knee-cops.

Pusane

see pizane.

Puzane

see pizane.

Q

Quadrelle

(I) a small mace with leaf-like projections, also quarrel.

Quarrel

the bolt or projectile used with the crossbow.

Quetyll

(OE) a knife.

Queue

a projecting hook on the back-piece of the cuirass to take the butt-end of the lance when held in rest.

Quijotes

(S) see cuisse.

Quillions

the cross-hilt of the sword.

R

Raillon

(OF) a kind of arrow.

Rainoise

an unknown type of arquebus.

Ranfort

the reinforcing ring of a cannon.

Ranseur

a large trident with sharpened blades set on a long shaft; a type of partizan.

Rennen

German jousting courses with sharp spearheads.

Rennhutschraube

(G) see crete-eschelle.

Rerebrace

armor for the upper arm.

Rest of advantage

some detail of armor forbidden in jousts.

Resta

lance-rest.

Restra de muelle

(S) lance-rest.

Ricasso

the squaring of the base of the sword-blade above the quillons.

Ringed mail

formed of flat rings sewn side by side on a tunic of leather or quilted linen.

Rivet

a suit of armor; afterwards the small nails that held it together.

Rochet

the blunt lance-point for jousting.

Rodete

(OF) a spur.

Roelle

(OF) a buckler or small shield.

Roncone

(I) see gisarme.

Rondache

a circular shield.

Rondel

circular plate protecting the armpit; also the back in early armets.

Rondelle

(F) circular plate protecting the armpit; also the back in early armets.

Rondel of the guard

possibly a vamplate.

Ross-stirn

(G) see chamfron.

Rodela

a circular shield.

Rotela

(I) a circular shield.

Rotellina da bracciale

(I) rondel.

Ruchenstuck

(G) the back-plate of the cuirass.

Rusthacken

(G) lance-rest.

Rustred mail

see banded mail.

Rustung

(G) armor.

S

sabataynes

(OE) see sollerets.

Sabatons

(OE) see sollerets.

Sacheboute

(OF) a horseman's lance.

Sagetta

a casque or helmet.

Salade

helmet with wide brim at the back, worn with or without visor and mentoniere.

Salett

helmet with wide brim at the back, worn with or without visor and mentoniere.

Sallad

helmet with wide brim at the back, worn with or without visor and mentoniere.

Sautoir

(OF) stirrup.

Sbalzo

(I) see cesello.

Scarpa a becco d'anatra

(I) see bear-paw.

Scarpa a punta articolata

(I) see poulaine.

Scarpa a pie d'orso

(I) see bear-paw.

Scarsellone

(I) see tasset.

Schale

(G) sallad.

Schalern

(G) sallad.

Schamkapsel

(G) see bravette.

Scheitelstuck

(G) the skull of the helmet.

Schembart

(G) the lower part of the visor, the ventail.

Schenkelschiene

(G) see cuishe.

Schiavona

(I) a basket-hilted cut-and-thrust sword.

Schiena

(I) the back-plate of the cuirass.

Schiessprugel

(G) see holy-water sprinkle.

Schiniere

(I) see jambs.

Schioppo

(OI) a dag or pistol.

Schlaeger

(G) student's fencing-sword.

Schulterschild

(G) see grand-guard.

Schulterschild mit Rand

(G) a pauldron with neck-guard attached.

Schwanzel

(G) the tail-guard of a horse.

Schwanzriempanzer

(G) the tail-guard of a horse.

Schwebescheibe

(G) see vamplate.

Sciabola

(I) Sabre.

Scudo

(I) a triangular shield.

Scure d'arme

(I) battle-axe.

Seax

a dagger.

Secreta

a thin steel cap worn under the hat.

Secrete

a thin steel cap worn under the hat.

Sella d'arme

(I) war-saddle.

Semitarge

(OF) a scimitar.

Serpentina

(I) the cock of a matchlock.

Setzschild

(G) see pavise.

Shaffron

see chamfron.

Sharfrennen

(G) variety of joust with sharpe-pointed lances.

Sharfrennentarsche

(G) a shield-like reinforcing piece for the Sharfrennen joust.

Shell-guard

a form of sword-guard.

Sfondagiaco

(I) see misericorde.

Sight

aperature in helm or helmet for vision.

Sisarmes

see gisarme.

Skull

the crown of a helm or helmet.

Slaughsword

a two-handed sword carried by the wiffler.

Sliding rivet

a rivet fixed to the upper plate and moving in a slot on the lower plate.

Snaphaunce

an early form of flint-lock in which the pan has to be uncovered before firing.

Sockets

a thigh-defense similar to the German diechling.

Soffione

(I) musket or caliver.

Sollerets

shoes of laminated plate, usually pointed.

Spada

(I) sword.

Spadone

(I) a long sword.

Spadroon

flat-bladed sword for cut-and-thrust.

Spallacci

(I) pauldrons

Spalliere

(F) see pauldrons.

Spasmo

(OI) dart or javelin.

Spetum

see ranseur.

Spiede

(I) see ranseur.

Spight

a short or flight arrow.

Spigo

(OI) the plume-holder on a helmet.

Splint armor

narrow overlapping plates as opposed to armor made of large plates.

Spright

a wooden arrow discharged from a gun.

Springal

see espringale.

Spontoon

a half-pike carried by officers.

Squarcina

(OI) a short sword or cutlass.

Staffa

(I) stirrup.

Standard of mail

a collar of chain mail.

Stecca

(I) the locket of a dagger.

Steccata

(I) the place of combat for duels.

Stechhelm

(G) heavy tilting-helm.

Stechen

(G) jousting course with coronal-tipped lances.

Stechtarche

(G) a ribbed tilting-shield used in gestech courses.

Stinchieri

(OI) armor for the shin.

Stirnstulp

(G) the upper part of the visor of an armet.

Stithe

(OE) anvil.

Stricia

(I) rapier.

Sturmhaube

(G) see burgonet.

Sturmwand

(G) see pavise.

Supeters

(OE) see sollerets.

Surcoat

a garment worn over the armor to protect it from the sun and rain, usually blazoned heraldically.

Sword-breaker

a short heavy sword with back edge toothed for breaking an opponent's sword.

Swyn-feather

see feather staff.

T

Tabard

the armorially emblazoned coat worn by heralds; see also surcoat.

Taces

laminated plates at the lower edge of cuirass.

Tache

(OE) strap.

Talevas

(S) shield.

Tapul

the vertical ridge in the center of some forms of breastplate.

Tarcaire

(OF) a quiver.

Targe

a small circular shield.

Tarques

(OF) some kind of engine of war.

Tartsche

(G) a small shield or targe.

Tartchen

(G) see ailettes.

Tassets

plates, usually lozenge-shaped, attached by starp and buckle to the taces to protect the upper or front surface of the thigh.

Taurea

(OI) a buckler of bull's hide.

Tegulated armor

armor of overlapping tile-like square plates.

Tertiare

to shorten the pike to receive cavalry or for shouldering.

Tesa

(I) the shade or brim of the burgonet.

Tester

(OE) see chanfron.

Testiera

(I) see chanfron.

Testiere

(F) a metal skull-cap; also the chanfron of a horse.

Tetriere

(F) see chanfron.

Thwyrtel

(OE) knife or dagger.

Thyrtel

(OE) knife or dagger.

Tilt

a barrier used to separate knights when jousting.

Timbre

(F) the skull of a helmet.

Tioles, Arbalest a

(F) windlass crossbow.

Toggle

the cross-bar of a boar-spear.

Toile

see tilt.

Tolys

(OE) tools.

Touch-box

probably a box for flint and steel carried by the musket.

Tourney

a contest of many knights in the lists opposed to the joust or single combat at barriers.

Tournois

(F) a contest of many knights in the lists opposed to the joust or single combat at barriers.

Tournicle d'eschaille

(F) a small tunic or a large gorget composed of overlapping scale armor.

Toyle

a contrivance fixed over the right cuisse to hold the lance when carried upright.

Trubrico

(S) blunderbuss.

Traguardo

(I) see visor.

Trapper

horse-trappings of fabric or mail.

Trellised armor

quilted linen or leather with leather bands sewn trellis-wise and having studs of metal in the trellis openings.

Tresses

plaited laces or arming-points.

Trilobed scales

triple scales in one piece sewn upon the brigandine.

Trombone

(I) a heavy pistol, blunderbuss.

Trousse

(F) a quiver.

Trumeliere

(F) see jamb.

Tuck

see estoc.

Tuile

(F) see tassets.

Tuilette

(F) small tassets.

Turcasso

(I) quiver.

Turves

probably a turban or orle worn on the helmet.

U

Umbo

the boss upon a shield.

Umbril

the shade or brim of head-pieces.

Uncin

war pickaxe.

Uncino

(OI) a broad-pointed arrow, a hook.

Unterarmzeug

(G) vambrace.

Usbergo

(OI) breastplate, vamplate.

V

Vambrace

the plate defense for the fore-arm.

Vamplate

a circular shield through which the tilting and war lances were fixed above the grip.

Vedoil

a weapon used by foot-soldiers, possible a voulge.

Velette

(OI) a horse-soldier's coat.

Venetian sallad

a sallad formed like the ancient Greek helmet with fixed visor, but evolved from the bascinet.

Ventaglio

(I) the lower part of the visor when it is made in two parts.

Ventail

(F) the lower part of the visor when it is made in two parts.

Ventalle

(S) the lower part of the visor when it is made in two parts.

Vervelles

the staples on the bascinet to which the carvail was laced.

Vireton

an arrow for the crossbow with curving wings, to produce a spinning motin.

Visera

(I) part of the helmet, moveable or fixed, which protect the eyes.

Visor

part of the helmet, moveable or fixed, which protect the eyes.

Vista

(S) part of the helmet, moveable or fixed, which protect the eyes.

Volant-piece

reinforcing piece for the tilt to protect the breast and lower half of the face.

Volet

the round disk at the back of the armet.

Volet

(F) an arrow or dart.

Vor-arm

(G) see vambrace.

Vorderfluge

(G) the front plate of the pauldron.

Vorhelm

(G) see placcate.

Voulge

a weapon somewhat similar to the Lochaber axe; used mostly by peasants.

Voyders

see gussets.

Voyding knife

a knife for disembowling deer.

Vuiders

see gussets.

Vuyders

see gussets.

W

Wafter

English dummy blade for fencing.

Wambais

see gambeson.

Wappen rock

(G) a cloak decorated heraldically.

Welsches gestech

German name for the Italian course of jousting over the tilt or barrier with blunted lance.

Whiffler

a two-handed swordsman who cleared the way in processions.

Wifle

a practice-sword, possibly a two-hander.

Winbrede

see gagnepain.

Wynbred

see gagnepain.

Wire hat

see coif.

Z

Zucchetto

(I) a species of burgonet.

Zweyhander

(G) two-handed sword.