plastron

[ plas-truhn ]

noun

1. a piece of plate armor for the upper part of the torso in front.
2. Fencing. a quilted pad worn over part of the torso, for protection.
3. an ornamental front piece of a woman's bodice.
4. the starched front of a shirt.
5. Zoology. the ventral part of the shell of a turtle.

plastron

/ ˈplæstrən /

noun

1. the bony plate forming the ventral part of the shell of a tortoise or turtle

Derived Forms

• ˈplastral, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plastron¹

1500–10; < Middle French < Italian piastrone, augmentative of piastra metal plate, piaster. See plaster

Word History and Origins

Origin of plastron¹

C16: via French from Italian piastrone, from piastra breastplate, from Latin emplastrum plaster

Example Sentences

I had myself a great silver bowl, with two goblets, and a plastron of Spanish steel.

From Project Gutenberg

Frequently a metal breastplate or plastron-de-fer, and a steel cap or chapel-de-fer, were worn under the mail.

From Project Gutenberg

A square brown Derby is worn with this suit, brown English driving gloves, and a white plastron or coachman's scarf.

From Project Gutenberg

His chest, he thought, must burst under the strapped plastron, and sweat poured in a sheet across his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

The anterior and posterior lobes of the plastron had been folded over the bridge, forming a three-ply thickness of bone.

From Project Gutenberg