GREAVE Meaning and
Definition
-
A greave is a piece of armor designed to protect the lower leg, specifically the shin and calf region. It is typically made of metal or hardened leather and is worn as part of a knight or warrior's leg protection in combat. The term "greave" originated from the Old French word "grève" which means shin or leg.
Greaves were an essential component of medieval armor and were commonly used from the 13th to the 16th century. They offered protection to the legs, safeguarding against various weapons such as swords, axes, or arrows that could cause severe damage to the lower extremities.
Greaves typically consisted of two separate plates, one for the shin and another for the calf, which were hinged or strapped together to allow movement. They were fastened to the leg using leather straps or buckles and were usually padded on the inside for additional comfort.
In addition to providing defense, greaves also served to display the social standing and wealth of the wearer. They were often elaborately decorated with engravings, etchings, or even intricate designs, which served as a show of the wearer's status and prestige.
While greaves are no longer used in modern warfare due to the evolution of weaponry and armor, they are still encountered in various forms in historical reenactments, costume design, and symbolic representations of medieval knights and warriors.
Common Misspellings for GREAVE
- freave
- vreave
- hreave
- yreave
- treave
- geeave
- gdeave
- gfeave
- gteave
- g5eave
- g4eave
- gr3ave
- grezve
- gresve
- grewve
- greqve
- greabe
- greage
- greafe
Etymology of GREAVE
The word "greave" comes from the Old English word "gref", which originally referred to a shin or leg piece of armor. It has been derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*grafa", meaning "shank" or "calf". The term "greave" started to be used in Middle English, referring to armor protecting the lower leg. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling evolved, eventually settling on "greave" as the contemporary form.
Idioms with the word GREAVE
Similar spelling words for GREAVE
- graph,
- grieve,
- greif,
- graf,
- graeff,
- grope,
- graef,
- grabby,
- grabe,
- grapy,
- Greve,
- groove,
- grieb,
- Graff,
- grappa,
- grube,
- grab,
- grabau,
- grebe,
- grabow,
- gravy,
- grave,
- grief,
- gripe,
- GREB,
- grove,
- grape,
- Grefe,
- grapey,
- grobe,
- GRAPO.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
