ventail

[ ven-teyl ]

noun

1. the pivoted middle element of a face defense of a close helmet.
2. a flap of mail attached to a coif and fastened across the lower part of the face during combat.

ventail

/ ˈvɛnteɪl /

noun

1. (in medieval armour) a covering for the lower part of the face

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventail¹

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French ventaille, equivalent to vent (< Latin ventus wind ¹ ) + -aille -al ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventail¹

C14: from Old French ventaille sluice, from vent wind, from Latin ventus

Example Sentences

Now the iron hulk lay, as obediently as ever, while the bare-legged man pressed its own swordpoint through the ventail of the visor.

From Literature

The movable front to a helmet; the ventail.

From Project Gutenberg

Two thousand were there that for sorrow for the four knights unlaced their ventails, and tore their hair and their beards.

From Project Gutenberg

Erec grabs him by the helmet and forcibly drags it from his head, and unlaces the ventail, so that his head and face are completely exposed.

From Project Gutenberg

He maketh them take off their helmets and lower their ventails, and then kiss one another, afterward he leadeth them to his hermitage.

From Project Gutenberg