brigandine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHistorical, Technical (Medieval/Renaissance History, Arms & Armour), Literary
Quick answer
What does “brigandine” mean?
A type of flexible body armor made of small metal plates riveted to a fabric or leather backing, worn in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of flexible body armor made of small metal plates riveted to a fabric or leather backing, worn in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Historically, a protective garment for soldiers; by extension, can refer to any similar composite protective construction or be used metaphorically for something that provides layered defense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Equally historical and specialised in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language in both regions, used only in specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “brigandine” in a Sentence
The knight wore a [adjective] brigandine.A brigandine was constructed from [material].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, or material culture studies discussing medieval military technology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in historical fiction, games, or documentaries.
Technical
Standard term in historical arms and armour classification, museum curation, and historical reenactment.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brigandine”
- Misspelling as 'brigantine'.
- Using it to refer to modern body armour (e.g., bulletproof vests).
- Confusing it with chainmail or plate armour.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Chainmail is made of interlinked metal rings, while a brigandine consists of small plates riveted to a fabric backing.
It saw widespread use from the 13th through the 16th centuries, primarily in Europe.
No, 'brigandine' is exclusively a noun in modern English.
No, it is a historical term. Modern composite body armour might be described analogously, but not with this specific term.
A type of flexible body armor made of small metal plates riveted to a fabric or leather backing, worn in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Brigandine is usually historical, technical (medieval/renaissance history, arms & armour), literary in register.
Brigandine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪɡ.ən.diːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪɡ.ənˌdiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRIGAND (a robber) needing a brigandINE for protection while robbing.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAYERED PROTECTION (e.g., 'His cynicism was a psychological brigandine against disappointment.')
Practice
Quiz
What is a brigandine primarily?