hauberk

/ˈhɔbərk/

Other forms: hauberks

A hauberk was part of the suit of armor worn by knights. Made of strong chain mail, a knight's hauberk helped protect the upper half of his body during a battle.

Chain mail, which is basically metal fabric, was a relatively lightweight part of a medieval knight's armor. The word hauberk comes from the Frankish halsberg, "neck-cover," a small section of chain mail that protected only a knight's neck and shoulders. The hauberk expanded on this, covering more of the body from blows, sometimes extending from neck to knees.

Definitions of hauberk

1. noun

   a long (usually sleeveless) tunic of chain mail formerly worn as defensive armor
   synonyms: byrnie

   type of:

   chain armor, chain armour, chain mail, mail, ring armor, ring armour, ring mail

   (Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings