Other forms: greaves
In ancient times, a warrior or knight's armor included greaves that protected the lower legs. Greaves were made of metal and lined with a soft felt padding.
Want to protect your vulnerable shin bones from an opponent's blade? You're going to need a pair of greaves, armor made to cover your leg from knee to ankle. Ancient Greek and Roman soldiers wore greaves, and they're mentioned in ancient literature, including Homer's Iliad. Medieval European warriors used them too, until some time during the 9th century. The word stems from the Arabic gaurab, "stocking."