Middle English Dictionary Entry
brẹ̄st-plāte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brẹ̄st-plāte n. Also brist-. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The piece of plate armor protecting the chest, breastplate; hol ~, solid or unhinged breastplate; (b) the front of the chest.
Associated quotations
a
- (1358) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.4.247 : Brestplate.
- (1385) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103594 : In uno basinet et l brest plait.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2120 : Armed in an haubergeoun and in a brestplate.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)273a/b : Of oxe hornes ben y made..brest plates and oþer armure by þe whiche vnstronge places of mannes body ben y warded and defended aȝeins schotte & smytynge of enemyes.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : A Brest plate..Vombras, and Rerebras, ob.
- (1411) EEWills19/5 : A pare of legge herneys, an holle brest-plate.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.62 : An hol brestplate with a rere-doos Be-hynde schet.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4573 : Pro uno pectorale alias brestplat.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)20a : Þe footmen of oure oostes were armed wiþ habirgeoun, bristplate, and helm on hir heued.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)38b : Helmes, habergeons, and bristplates.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)744 : A brynye, browded þicke, with a brest-plate.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)783 : Hic torax: a brystplate.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)23a/b : Infeccioun & corrupcioun of þe humours of þe brest & of þe brestplate & bon as..a mong mesels and leprous men.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. breast plate.