What does breastplate mean?
A breastplate is a piece of armour designed to protect the wearer's chest, historically made of metal and often forming the front half of a cuirass, the two-piece torso defence worn by soldiers and knights. The word also carries an important religious meaning: in the Hebrew Bible, the high priest of Israel wore a ceremonial breastplate set with twelve gemstones, each representing one of the tribes of Israel. Today the term appears most often in historical writing, museums, fantasy fiction, and biblical scholarship. Its figurative use survives in the biblical phrase 'breastplate of righteousness,' which symbolizes spiritual protection. Whether describing a knight's gleaming steel plate or a priest's jewelled vestment, the word evokes both physical defence and symbolic safeguarding of the heart — the vital centre of the body it covers.
A piece of armour protecting the chest; specifically the front plate of a cuirass.
"The reenactor strapped a leather breastplate over his tunic."
In modern military terms, equivalent protection is usually called body armour or a ballistic vest rather than a breastplate.
(Biblical) The ornamental garment set with twelve gemstones worn by the Israelite high priest, described in the Book of Exodus.
"The breastplate of Aaron bore a stone for each tribe of Israel."
Often capitalized in religious texts; also called the 'priestly breastplate' or by the Hebrew term 'hoshen.'
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple pieces of armour or several priests' garments.
"The armory displayed rows of dented breastplates recovered from the battlefield."
The high priest's breastplate, the Breastplate of Aaron, was set with twelve gemstones — one for each tribe of Israel — making it arguably history's most famous piece of jewelled chestwear.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of breastplate
The word breastplate is a straightforward English compound formed from 'breast' (Old English brēost) and 'plate' (borrowed from Old French plate, ultimately from Greek platys via Medieval Latin plata), dating from the Middle English period when plate armour developed in Europe. It literally names its function: a plate worn over the breast. Related formations using 'breast' as a first element include breastwork and breaststroke, while 'plate' shares ancestry with words such as platter and plateau.
How breastplate is actually used
Mostly used in historical, military-historical, or religious/biblical contexts; in everyday modern speech it appears chiefly in discussions of medieval armour or scripture. The phrase 'breastplate of righteousness' comes from Paul's Letter to the Ephesians.
Easily confused with breastplate
A breastwork is a temporary defensive fortification built above ground level (a rampart), whereas a breastplate is armour worn on the chest.