cuirass

American  

[kwi-ras] / kwɪˈræs /

noun

1. Also called corselet.  defensive armor for the torso comprising a breastplate and backplate, originally made of leather.

2. either of the plates forming such armor.

3. any similar covering, as the protective armor of a ship.

4. Zoology. a hard shell or other covering forming an indurated defensive shield.

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verb (used with object)

1. to equip or cover with a cuirass.

cuirass British  

/ kwɪˈræs /

noun

1. a piece of armour, of leather or metal covering the chest and back

2. a hard outer protective covering of some animals, consisting of shell, plate, or scales

3. any similar protective covering, as on a ship

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verb

1. (tr) to equip with a cuirass

Etymology

Origin of cuirass

1425–75; < French cuirasse < Late Latin coriācea, noun use of feminine of coriāceus (adj.) leather, equivalent to Latin cori ( um ) leather + -āceus -aceous; replacing late Middle English curas < Middle French curasse, variant of cuirasse

Example Sentences

One of the scariest outfits is a “tosei” — “modern,” or post-17th-century — gusoku with multicolored lacing and flesh-colored cuirass.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2014

The parade cuirass carved with the chariot of the Sun god and two winged victories flanking a trophy show that the monumental fragment was once part of an imperial statue of the first century A.D.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2010

The coral amps up the green britches of El Greco’s portrait of the skeptical-looking Anastagi, along with the brilliant whites of his stockings, collar and cuffs, and his silvery cuirass.

From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2010

Astrid Varnay found herself dressed up again ; this time in a red wig, a hand-me-down cuirass and tunic of one of the Valkyrie maids, a man's heavy helmet.

From Time Magazine Archive

Fitting cuirass and swordbelt to his shoulders, he woke his herdsmen, woke Telemakhos, ordering all in arms.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer