mamelière

English

Etymology

French mamelière, from mamelle + -ière.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌmæməˈljɛɚ/

Noun

mamelière (plural mamelières)

1. A circular armor plate (of metal, leather, etc) worn over the breast of a fighter to hold chains to which the sword, dagger, or helmet could be attached, so as to be recoverable if knocked from the fighter.
   • 1885, Frederick William Fairholt, Costume in England: A History of Dress to the End of the Eighteenth Century, London : G. Bell & Sons, page 150:

     During the following reign an increased quantity of plate is visible, and small circular plates, mamelières, so called from their position, and to which chains were attached, that were secured at the other end to the helmet […]

   • 1888, The Archaeological Journal, page 103:

     For the first time in the Seals the pomel of the sword is fastened by a chain to a mamelière. The examples of monumental effigies and brasses exhibiting these features are far from numerous, and they are always associated with […]

   • 1895, The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, page 253:

     On the neck is the gorget of plates, and on the cuirass is seen one of the mamelières or ornamental circular plates to which the chain was attached for holding the helmet.

   • 1898, Archaeologia Aeliana: Or, Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquities, page 221:

     Mamelières prevailed during the fourteenth century, more especially in the first half. Examples are rare. These plates are present on an effigy in Tewkesbury abbey church, the date of which is doubtless about the middle of the […]

   • 1899, Archaeologia Aeliana, Or, Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity, page 221:

     There is a brass in Minster church, Isle of Sheppey, which represents an armed figure with only one 'mamelière;' it is on the left breast, with the chain going up over the left shoulder.

   • 1920, Guy F. Laking, A Record of European Armour and Arms Through Seven Centuries:

     Clearly defined are the quatrefoil piercings in the lower front that were used for attaching the helm, by means of a chain and bar, to the mamelières of the breastplate. From this same Kaiser Dom of Frankfort we take our next […]

   • 1927, The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal:

     ... the heaume is suspended by means of a chain from a cuir-bouilli mamelière on the left breast; the shield is carried at the hip in the French fashion; the demi-jambarts and sollerets are of scale cuir-bouilli.

   • 1977, Brian Daley, The Domfarers of Coramonde, Lucia St. Clair Robson, →ISBN, page 181:

     Su-Suru considered this as he toyed with the silver mamelière on his furred vest. "You'll need to fight our current Champion then, Wolf-Brother, just as you thought. Ferrian doesn't believe in foreign adventuring."

Alternative forms

• mamellière, mamillière