mentonnière

[ men-tuhn-yair; French mahn-taw-nyer ]

noun

, Armor.

, plural men·ton·nières [men-t, uh, n-, yairz, mah, n, -taw-, nyer].

1. any of various plate pieces for protecting the lower part of the face, as a beaver.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mentonnière¹

1815–25; < French, equivalent to menton chin + -ière, feminine of -ier -ier ²; brassiere

Example Sentences

As the Marquis, confident in his address, disdained the use of the passe-guarde and the mentonnière, Mounchensey abandoned those defences, though they were used by all the other knights, and placed his reliance in the strength of his breast-plate and gorget, and in the force of his right arm.

From Project Gutenberg

He is attired in a suit of black armour of exquisite workmanship, lacking only the helmet, which is carried by a page—as are the volante pièce, the mentonnière, and the grande-garde, intended to be worn in the field.

From Project Gutenberg