hounskull

English

Etymology

From Middle English hounscull, from German Hundsgugel or a related term, influenced by hound skull.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaʊnˌskʌl/

Noun

hounskull (plural hounskulls)

1. A type of visor, drawn out into a conical point like a muzzle or beak which improved ventilation and deflected blows, or a helmet having such a visor.
   • 1933, Archaeologia, Or, Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity:

     On the counter is a hounskull with aventail (a visored bascinet with mail tippet) with a small plume on the apex. A pair of bell-cuffed gauntlets and an arming sword hang outside.

   • 1971, Helmut Nickel, Arms and Armour Through the Ages:

     The big helmets that might have given many knights claustrophobia were gradually abolished for “hounskulls”, close-fitting steel caps with pointed visors that could be flicked open for easier breathing.

   • 2009, Jeffrey L. Forgeng, Will McLean, Daily Life in Chaucer's England, ABC-CLIO, →ISBN, page 171:

     The most characteristic form of visor was the so-called “hounskull,” which featured a pointed snout that helped to deflect weapons, as well as giving the wearer an intimidating, bestial look; other visors had a rounded face.

   • 2017, RH Hale, Church Mouse: Memoir of a vampire's servant, Help For Writers Ltd, →ISBN:

     Others showed signs of traumatic impact: a hounskull bascinet, split across the snout as if by an axe; a piece of chainmail, smashed breast to waist by a lance or a spiked mace.

   • 2020, Andrzej Sapkowski, The Tower of Fools, Orbit, →ISBN:

     There were knights everywhere, all around him a chaos of ghastly pointed hounskulls, a kaleidoscope of crosses and coats of arms on shields, a hurricane of flashing swords, a maelstrom of horses' teeth, chests and hooves.

Alternative forms

• houndskull