Pronunciation: [sˈalət] (IPA) 
The word "salet" is a rarely used alternative spelling for the word "salad". It is pronounced /sæl ɪt/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the stress on the first syllable. The letter "e" at the end of the word is silent and serves only to indicate the pronunciation of the "a" as a short vowel sound. While "salet" is a valid spelling of the word, it is not commonly seen in modern usage and may cause confusion or be considered archaic.
The term "salet" refers to a specific type of medieval helmet commonly worn during the 15th and early 16th centuries. Derived from the Old French word "salete" meaning "little sallet," it describes a versatile piece of protective headgear primarily used by infantry soldiers. The salet is characterized by its rounded skull cap featuring a low, rounded visor protecting the face.
This open-faced helmet typically has a hinged visor that can be raised or lowered when necessary to provide varying levels of protection to the wearer. The visor can fully cover the face and even include an additional nasal protection or be lifted up to allow better visibility and ventilation during combat. The salet helmet also often includes a pivoting bevor, which safeguards the throat area.
The design of the salet is known for its simplicity and functionality, allowing for easy movement, ventilation, and a clear field of vision, making it particularly suitable for foot soldiers involved in close quarter battles.
While primarily used during the late Middle Ages, the salet eventually fell out of favor as advances in armor and weaponry replaced it with more effective headgear. Nonetheless, it remains an iconic representation of medieval warfare, frequently depicted in historical artwork and often encountered in museums and collections dedicated to arms and armor.
The word "salet" has an interesting etymology. It derives from the Old French term "sallet", which in turn comes from the Late Latin word "saladum", meaning "a dish of salted vegetables". The Middle English word "salet" referred to a kind of helmet worn during the 15th and 16th centuries. This particular type of helmet had a broad brim that covered the back of the neck and sometimes included a visor. Over time, the spelling shifted from "salet" to "sallet", and eventually evolved into the modern term "salad". The connection between the vegetable dish and the protective headgear is not entirely clear, but it is believed that the term "sallet" was used metaphorically to describe the helmet's shape, resembling the leaves of a salad.
