plate armour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Historical / Literary
Quick answer
What does “plate armour” mean?
A type of personal armour made from large metal plates, historically worn by knights and heavy cavalry to protect against weapons.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of personal armour made from large metal plates, historically worn by knights and heavy cavalry to protect against weapons.
Any protective covering composed of rigid plates, whether historical, modern (e.g., ballistic plates), or metaphorical (e.g., describing emotional detachment).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English strongly prefers the spelling 'armour'. American English uses 'armor'. The compound noun 'plate armour/armor' is standard in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term evokes medieval European knights, historical warfare, and fantasy genres (e.g., RPGs).
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language. Higher frequency in historical, gaming, and military contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “plate armour” in a Sentence
[Subject] wore plate armour[Subject] was encased in plate armour[Subject] clad [Object] in plate armourPlate armour [verb: protected/weighed/restricted] [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “plate armour” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The museum's collection features a superb example of 15th-century Gothic plate armour.
- Despite its weight, well-fitted plate armour allowed for surprising mobility.
verb
British English
- (Rare/poetic) He sought to plate-armour his heart against further grief.
American English
- (Rare/poetic) The warship was plate-armored against cannon fire.
adjective
British English
- (As compound modifier) The plate-armour construction technique evolved significantly.
- He had a plate-armour mentality.
American English
- The knight's plate-armor gauntlet was intricately decorated.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potential in niche markets (historical reenactment supplies, fantasy merchandise).
Academic
Common in history, archaeology, and material culture studies. Precise term for a specific armour type.
Everyday
Very rare. Used when discussing history, films, games, or museums.
Technical
Specific in historical arms and armour studies, modern ballistic armour design (plate carriers).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “plate armour”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “plate armour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plate armour”
- Using 'plate armour' to refer to any metal armour (e.g., chainmail is not plate). Confusing it with 'armour plate' (which refers to the metal sheet itself, e.g., on a tank).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often, but not exclusively. A 'suit of armour' can be made of other materials (e.g., mail). 'Plate armour' specifies the construction from large metal plates.
Contrary to popular belief, a well-fitted suit of plate armour (weighing 20-25 kg) allowed for significant mobility, including running, mounting a horse, and lying down, though it was fatiguing over long periods.
The primary factors were the increasing power and prevalence of firearms (which could penetrate plates) and the changing nature of warfare, which favoured larger, more mobile armies over heavily armoured individual knights.
Yes, the concept persists in modern 'hard armour plates' or 'trauma plates' used in ballistic vests by soldiers and police. The historical term is also used in fantasy literature, gaming, and historical reenactment.
A type of personal armour made from large metal plates, historically worn by knights and heavy cavalry to protect against weapons.
Plate armour is usually technical / historical / literary in register.
Plate armour: in British English it is pronounced /pleɪt ˈɑːmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /pleɪt ˈɑːrmər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A heart of plate armour (emotionally detached)”
- “Clanking like a suit of plate armour (moving noisily and awkwardly)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a knight's metal PLATE at the door, ARMOURing it against attack. Plate Armour.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A HARD SHELL; EMOTIONAL DETACHMENT IS ARMOUR.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key disadvantage of full plate armour often cited by historians?