chanfron

[ chan-fruhn ]

noun

1. a piece of plate armor for defending a horse's head.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chanfron¹

late Middle English shamfron < Anglo-French, Old French champfrein, perhaps for *chafrein (with -m- perhaps from chamfrein chamfer, though the senses are unrelated), noun derivative of chafre ( s ) ner literally, to put a bridle on < Vulgar Latin *cap ( um ) head (for caput; chief ) + *-frenāre, verbal derivative of Latin frēnum bridle

Example Sentences

Hercules as a child again appears amid embossed foliations on the chanfron.

From Project Gutenberg

The crouptière and estival, together with the chanfron, were of the most costly description.

From Project Gutenberg