What does cheekpiece mean?
Cheekpiece is a specialized noun for a component associated with the cheek. Its best-known sense is a defensive plate belonging to a helmet or suit of armor. In firearms, the term can denote the shaped part at the back of the stock that supports the shooter's cheek. Equestrian terminology also uses it for the section of a bridle lying against a horse's cheek and linking the headpiece to the bit. These meanings share a simple literal idea: a separate piece placed at the cheek. The word is uncommon in everyday speech and usually appears in historical, military, sporting, or technical discussions. It remains useful because it names specific parts more precisely than general terms such as armor, stock, or bridle, while the related term cheek guard can be preferred for protective armor and cheek strap is common in modern riding equipment.
nounA cheekpiece is a plate or piece of armor fitted to protect the cheek, especially as part of a helmet. In technical usage, it can also denote the shaped part of a firearm stock that supports the shooter's cheek or the section of a bridle lying against a horse's cheek.
- A rigid, articulated, or padded piece of armor designed to protect the cheek, especially as part of a helmet.
- The shaped wooden or synthetic section at the rear of a firearm stock that supports the shooter's cheek.
- The section of a bridle that lies against a horse's cheek and connects the headpiece to the bit.
"The knight raised a metal cheekpiece to protect the side of his face."
"The knight raised a metal cheekpiece to protect the side of his face."
"The saddler adjusted the leather cheekpiece where the bridle passed against the horse's cheek."
The regular plural adds -s; when the word modifies a larger object, it may be written separately or hyphenated as a compound modifier according to the house style being followed.
"The collection includes two cheekpieces from different styles of helmet."
A cheekpiece is the small part of armor that makes an exposed face a less casual place to be.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cheekpiece come from?
The word is an English compound of cheek and piece, both of which were already established in Middle English. Cheek continues Old English cēace, while piece entered Middle English from Old French piece. In the compound, piece means a distinct or detached part, yielding the transparent sense “a piece for the cheek.”
Related word forms
How cheekpiece is actually used
The word is specialized rather than part of general modern vocabulary. Its armor sense is chiefly historical or literary, while its firearm and bridle senses are technical; context-specific terms such as cheek guard or cheek strap may be preferred.