gambeson

The gambeson is a type of medieval garment that was worn under armor to provide protection and comfort. It was typically made of quilted fabric and was a common article of clothing among medieval warriors. The term 'gambeson' is often used interchangeably with 'jupon', although some historians make a distinction between the two. The gambeson was worn to prevent chafing and injury from the armor, and was often worn by knights and other armored warriors. It was also worn by men-at-arms and other soldiers. The gambeson was an important part of medieval armor, and was used in conjunction with other protective garments such as the aketon and the cuir bouilli. The term 'gambeson' has been used in historical and literary contexts to describe the garment, and is still used today by historians and reenactors to describe the clothing of medieval warriors.

A type of medieval garment, typically made of quilted fabric, worn under armor to provide protection and comfort.

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Etymology of gambeson

The term 'gambeson' is derived from the Old French 'gambesson', which is itself derived from the Latin 'camisia'. The Latin term referred to a type of shirt or tunic, and was used to describe a variety of garments worn by ancient Romans. The Old French term 'gambesson' referred specifically to a type of quilted garment, and was used to describe the medieval garment that was worn under armor. The term 'gambeson' has been used in English since the 14th century, and has been used in a variety of contexts to describe the garment.

Usage notes

The term 'gambeson' is often used interchangeably with 'jupon', although some historians make a distinction between the two.

Synonyms for gambeson

Rhymes with gambeson