rerebrace: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “rerebrace” mean?
A piece of plate armour for the defence of the upper arm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of plate armour for the defence of the upper arm.
Specifically, the armor covering the part of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow in a medieval suit of armour. It is also called an 'upper cannon' in armor terminology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning. The term is equally obscure and technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, medieval, antiquarian.
Frequency
Effectively zero in both dialects; used only by historians, reenactors, and enthusiasts of medieval arms and armor.
Grammar
How to Use “rerebrace” in a Sentence
The [material] rerebrace protected the knight's arm.He adjusted the [descriptor] rerebrace.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts, archaeology, and material culture studies discussing medieval European armour.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used with precise meaning in the field of arms and armour, historical reenactment, and heraldic blazoning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rerebrace”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rerebrace”
- Misspelling as 'rearbrace' or 'rear brace'.
- Using it to refer to any arm armor.
- Pronouncing it as /riːrbreɪs/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare and technical term used almost exclusively in the context of medieval history and armour studies.
A rerebrace protects the upper arm (between shoulder and elbow), while a vambrace protects the forearm (between elbow and wrist).
Only in very specific historical or technical discussions. It would be incomprehensible in general conversation.
It comes from Middle English, from Old French 'arerebras', from 'arere' (behind, rear) + 'bras' (arm), though in armour context 'rere' came to mean the upper part of the arm.
A piece of plate armour for the defence of the upper arm.
Rerebrace is usually technical/historical in register.
Rerebrace: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪəbreɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪrˌbreɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'REAR' of the arm (upper arm) that needs a BRACE (support/armor). A REREBRACE braces the rear part of your arm? Actually, 'rere' comes from an old French word for 'upper arm'. So: RERE (upper arm) + BRACE (armor) = upper arm armor.
Conceptual Metaphor
Protection as a shell or casing (the armour is a hard shell for the vulnerable limb).
Practice
Quiz
What part of the body did a rerebrace protect?