What does barded mean?
Barded is a rare historical adjective describing a horse that has been fitted with defensive armor or elaborate trappings for battle or ceremonial display. In medieval Europe, warhorses were often protected by plates of steel or leather covering the head, neck, chest, and flanks, and such a mount was said to be barded. The term derives from the verb bard, meaning to clothe a horse in this way, and it survives today chiefly in writing about chivalry, tournaments, and medieval military equipment. Because it belongs to a specialized vocabulary, barded is unlikely to appear in everyday conversation, but it remains useful for readers of historical fiction, museum descriptions, and academic studies of knighthood. Its connotations are grand and martial, evoking the pageantry of armored knights and their equally well-protected steeds on the field of honor.
adjectiveClad in defensive armor; specifically, of a horse, covered with protective plates or trappings for battle.
- (Of a horse) covered with defensive armor or ornamental trappings for war or ceremony.
- More generally, armored or clad in protective covering.
"The knight rode into the lists on a barded charger, its steel plates gleaming in the sun."
"The tournament grounds filled with barded destriers, each one draped in its rider's colors."
"In medieval warfare, a fully barded horse was nearly as costly to equip as the knight who rode it."
Medieval warhorses wore full suits of armor too — and 'barded' is the word for it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of barded
Barded comes from the verb bard, borrowed from Old French barder, meaning to arm or caparison a horse, which itself derives from barde, the term for a horse's defensive covering. The word entered English during the Middle Ages alongside the vocabulary of chivalry and mounted warfare. It should not be confused with the unrelated word bard meaning a Celtic poet, which has a separate Germanic/Norse origin.
Related word forms
How barded is actually used
A rare, historical term encountered mainly in discussions of medieval chivalry, heraldry, and military history. It carries an archaic, literary flavor and appears almost exclusively in reference to horses rather than people.
Easily confused with barded
A bard is a poet or singer of epic tales, whereas barded describes a horse fitted with protective armor.