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!

Neck, defense of: During the 13th century, the neck was defended by a coif worn under the helmet. With the development of the bascinet during the 14th century, most knights wore aventails suspended from the helmet. Great bascinets replaced this aventail with a plate collar, also attached to the bascinet itself, then fastened to the cuirass. 15th century helmets used both aventails (on armets) and bevors to defend the throat. 16th century helmets usually used a combination of chin defenses and a gorget that defended the lower portion of the throat.

Nock: Notch in a bow and in an arrow, designed to keep the arrow in its proper place for firing.

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