Rerebraces

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Pieces of armor crafted to shield the upper arms in suits of plate; protective metal sections designed for safeguarding the region above the elbow in historical or ceremonial armament
2. Segments of a suit of armor specifically fashioned to cover and defend the upper portions of the arm; the metal guards that form part of a full arm defense in traditional plate armor
3. Armor elements intended for the protection of the upper arm, typically as part of a knight's or warrior's plate defenses; articulated shields that encase the area between shoulder and elbow

Etymology: The term in question appears to be a plural form of a somewhat specialized or archaic English noun, "rerebrace," which itself has origins in medieval armor terminology. The word originally referred to a piece of plate armor designed to protect the upper arm, specifically the section above the elbow. This component was part of a full suit of armor worn by knights and soldiers in the Middle Ages, particularly from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Tracing the etymology, "rerebrace" combines two elements: "rere-" and "brace." The prefix "rere-" comes from Middle English, meaning "rear" or "back," derived from Old English "rǣr," which relates to the idea of something being behind or at the back. The word "brace" in this context is from Old French "brace," meaning "arm," which ultimately traces back to Latin "bracchia," the plural of "bracchium," meaning "arm." Hence, the compound literally means "rear arm" or "back of the arm," distinguishing this armor piece from other arm guards. The plural form "rerebraces" would therefore denote multiple such pieces of armor, possibly referring to sets or collections of these upper arm guards. The term is rare in modern usage, largely confined to historical or reenactment contexts, and it entered English in the late Middle Ages when armor technology and terminology were developing alongside the needs of warfare and chivalry. While "rerebrace" itself did not undergo a significant semantic shift, its use faded as plate armor became obsolete with changes in military technology. Today, the word survives mostly in historical texts, museums, and specialist discussions of medieval arms and armor. The combination of Old English and Old French roots in this term exemplifies the layered linguistic history of English, shaped by conquest and cultural exchange.