Definition

Noun: 1. A piece of armor: Specifically, one of the small, rounded or oval plates in a suit of armor, designed to protect the armpit. It is a component of plate armor, attached near the shoulder to cover a vulnerable gap.

Usage

• The singular form "pallette" refers to one specific plate.
• The plural form is "pallettes."
• This is a highly specialized, historical term used primarily in the context of medieval armor, military history, and historical reenactment.

Examples

• The knight's suit was incomplete until the pallettes were securely fastened at the armpits.
• A well-made pallette allowed for greater mobility while maintaining crucial protection.
• Museums often label this component as a pallette or an armpit guard.

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in technical descriptions of historical European armor. In modern discussions about armor (e.g., for games or fiction), the more general term "armor plate" or "pauldron" (shoulder armor) might be used, though they are not precise synonyms.

Variants and Related Words

• Palette (noun): A thin board used by artists for mixing paints; the range of colors used in a particular painting or by a particular artist. ()
• Palate (noun): The roof of the mouth; a person's appreciation of taste and flavor, especially when sophisticated. ()
• Rerebrace (noun): The plate armor protecting the upper arm.
• Couter (noun): The plate armor protecting the elbow.
• Pauldron (noun): A piece of plate armor for the shoulder and upper arm, which often incorporates or works alongside the pallette.

Synonyms

• Armpit guard
• Armpit plate
• Besagew (a specific type of circular plate used to defend the armpit or joint)

Notes on Meaning

This word has only one specific, technical meaning related to historical armor. It is not used in everyday modern English. Confusion frequently arises with the more common words "palette" (artist's board) and "palate" (roof of the mouth/taste).

Noun

1. one of the rounded armor plates at the armpits of a suit of armor