pavis

See also: påvis

English

Alternative forms

• pavise, pavais
• (less common) pabys, pavese, pavesse

Etymology

From Middle English pavis(e) (paveis, pavas), from Anglo-Norman pavis (compare French pavois), from Latin pavensis, probably from Pavia in Italy. Compare Italian pavese.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈpɑv.ɪs/

Noun

pavis (plural pavises or pavisses)

1. (military, history) A very large shield, like a small moveable wall, carried in front to protect all or most of the bearer's body, often with a projecting ridge running vertically down the center.
   • c. 1521, John Skelton, Speke Parott:

     For in this proceſſe, Parrot nothĩg hath ſurmyſed
     No matter pretendyd, nor nothyng enterpryſed
     But that metaphora, alegoria with all
     Shall be his protectyon, his pauys and his wall

Translations

large shield

• Catalan: pavès (ca) m
• Czech: pavéza (cs) f
• Finnish: paviisi
• French: pavois (fr) m
• Galician: pavés m
• German: Langschild m
• Italian: pavese (it) m
• Polish: pawęż f
• Portuguese: pavês m
• Spanish: pavés m

Anagrams

• Spiva, višap

Latin

Noun

pāvīs

1. dative/ablative plural of pāva