Vambrace

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈvæm.bɹeɪs/

Definitions

1. A type of protective gear covering the forearm is used in combat situations to prevent injuries from strikes while also allowing for flexibility and movement during battles
2. A protective piece of armor worn on the forearm serves to shield against injury in combat while offering mobility and ease of movement for the wearer
3. This item is designed to guard the forearm from weapon strikes in battle, combining protection with the ability to maneuver

Etymology: The forearm armour takes its name from a French phrase meaning "fore-arm." In Anglo-Norman, the word "avantbras" was built from "avant," meaning "before" or "front," and "bras," meaning "arm," so the name simply describes the part of the body it protects. English borrowed the term from Anglo-Norman in the Middle English period, when it appeared in spellings such as "vauntbras" and "vambras," before settling into the form used today. The original French word carries no hint of armour at all; it is an ordinary anatomical term. The military sense came from the body part it covered, so a reader meeting "vambrace" is really meeting a plain description of a forearm in a piece of metal.

Synonyms: armguard, forearm armor, bracer, arm protection, gauntlet