Arms and Armour
Glossary of Terms


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The glossary is meant as a growing resource for students, re-enactors, and anyone interested in knighthood, chivalry, or the medieval tournament. The current page is but a brief listing of what we would like to have on the page; if you would be interested in helping with a given area, such as in heraldry, transcribing tournament accounts, translations, or research, drop the author an email at brion@chronique.com. Additionally, we would like to expand many of the definitions here; if you want to try one or more of them send your submissions to the email address above--we can use the help!

Fabric, common types in arming applications: Linen was the most common material for aketons, gambesons, and arming clothes. Silk was also used, and there is a tale that says that this is because silk against the skin has a tendency to restrict the damage of a wound. Wool also appears to have been common for cotes and overclothes, though few examples of arming clothes remain save for the cote of the Black Prince, in Canterbury Cathedral; the jupon of Charles the Bold; and a pourpoint from the 15th century held in the Kienbusch collection, Philadelphia.

Falchion: A short, heavy, broad-bladed sword with a single edge, bearing a similarity to a heavy scimitar.

Faulds: Hoops of steel used to defend the hips, abdomen and lower back; attached to a breastplate. Tassets extended downwards to protect the lower hips. Taken together with the breast and backplates, they formed the cuirass or body defense of the 14th and 15th century. During the 14th century faulds were sometimes covered in cloth using many rivets, or sometimes to leather. The practice was continued into the 15th century with increasing rarity.

Ferrite: A non-metallic, ceramic-like compound of ferric oxide found in iron.

Ferrous: Metal derived from iron ore--pig-iron, cast-iron, steel.

Flaring: The pressing of metal so that a lip or tail is formed into a compound curve with a concave shape, similar to the mouth of a vase. This technique is essential to making fine quality pieces that are free from the modern danger of being to flat. Barbutes, greaves, crinets, gauntlet cuffs, and vambraces all feature a good deal of flaring, making them difficult to execute. Without doubt flaring is one of the more difficult things for an armourer to learn, but it improves the quality of the resulting pieces by many times.

Fluting: Ribbing which is hammered into armoured plates for strength. Popular in Gothic armour during the 15th century, it was occasionally used in armour from other regions chiefly on tassets and to reinforce the wings of poleyns.

Fuller: The groove forged and ground into the center of a sword blade in order to lighten it. This was not used, as in common folklore, as a "blood channel" so that blood can flow off of the blade.

Funerary Brass: (See Brass, Funerary)

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