Harneis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A protective covering made of metal or other stiff materials worn to guard the body in battle or hazardous situations; the equipment or gear used for defense in combat; a set of materials designed to shield a person during physical confrontation
2. A suit or set of defensive garments composed of rigid plates or layers worn by warriors or soldiers for protection; the collective pieces of protective outfit utilized in fighting or dangerous activities; defensive apparatus worn to prevent injury in combat
3. A complete outfit of protective gear crafted to shield the wearer from physical harm during warfare or hazardous conditions; the ensemble of armor components serving as personal defense equipment; protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect blows in battles or similar contexts

Etymology: Harness once meant a soldier's whole outfit rather than a set of straps. Old French "harnois" denoted military equipment, and English borrowed it with that sense, so a fighter who was armed for battle could be described as being in harness. The French word's own origin is uncertain. It is possibly from an Old Norse compound meaning provisions for an army, which would fit its military beginnings. Over time the meaning narrowed. Armor fell out of general use, and harness came to mean the gear fitted to horses and other draft animals, the straps and collars that let them pull a load. The old military sense survives mainly in the phrase "back in harness," meaning returned to work.