hauberk

English

Alternative forms

• hawberk

Etymology

From Old French hauberc, from Frankish *halsberg (“neck-cover”).

Noun

hauberk (plural hauberks)

[1] Hauberk, 15th century

1. A coat of mail; especially, the long coat of mail of the European Middle Ages, as contrasted with the habergeon, which is shorter and sometimes sleeveless.
   • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 14:

     The hauberk was a complete covering of mail from head to foot. It consisted of a hood, joined to a jacket with sleeves, breeches, stockings and shoes of double chain mail, to which were added gauntlets of the same construction.

   • 1909, Charles Henry Ashdown, European Arms & Armor, page 65:

     The hauberk was to the Norman what the byrnie was to the Saxon, the chief method of bodily defence.

Coordinate terms

• byrnie, habergeon, haubergeon