What does tasset mean?
A tasset is a piece of body armor, usually one of a pair, suspended from the waist or the lower edge of a breastplate to protect the upper thigh. Such panels appeared in medieval and early-modern armor, where they provided protection between the torso and the legs while allowing the wearer to move. The word is therefore mainly associated with armor history, museums, reenactment, and the vocabulary of armorers rather than ordinary modern speech. In descriptions of a complete suit, “tassets” commonly refers to the pair of hanging thigh guards. The term comes through French from an older word for a pan or shallow vessel, illustrating how specialized equipment terms often evolve from surprisingly ordinary objects. Today, tasset has a dated, specialist quality, but it is useful to readers of historical texts because it names precisely the part of armor designed to bridge the gap between a protected torso and protected legs.
nounA piece of armor, usually one of a pair, suspended from the waist or the lower edge of a breastplate to protect the upper thigh.
- A flexible or rigid armor panel attached at the waist to protect the upper thigh.
"The knight adjusted the tasset at his waist before entering the lists."
"The knight adjusted the tasset at his waist before entering the lists."
"The museum conservator explained how the surviving tassets protected the wearer's upper thighs."
The standard plural. Because armor commonly includes two tassets, the plural is often used collectively when discussing a complete suit.
"A pair of tassets hung from the lower edge of the cuirass."
A tasset was armor's apron—the hanging panel that protected a warrior's thighs.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tasset
The word entered English in the early sixteenth century from French tasset, a diminutive of Old French tasse, meaning a pan or vessel and continuing Medieval Latin tassa. The specialized armor sense developed from the French word's use for a hanging thigh guard. The related English forms tasse and tass preserve the same French source and are now rare or archaic.
Related word forms
How tasset is actually used
This is specialized terminology associated chiefly with historical armor, museums, reenactment, and armor-making. It is uncommon in general modern speech and is often used collectively in the plural.