breastplate

What it means

1. A piece of armor that covers the chest.

   Synonyms: chestplate

2. A piece of armor that covers the torso; a cuirass, the breast- (front) and back-plate, taken together as a unit.

   A massive hand grabbed the back of his breastplate and pulled him back.

   2011, Tracy Hickman, Song of the Dragon, page 41

   1 more example

   He wears a Thracian-style helmet that protects most of his head and face, and a breastplate or "cuirass" covering his back and chest, both made of bronze.

   2002, Bruce LaFontaine, Warriors Through the Ages, page 6

3. A piece of horse tack designed to prevent the saddle slipping backwards.

   Synonyms: breastcollar, breaststrap, breastgirth

In a sentence

He wears a Thracian-style helmet that protects most of his head and face, and a breastplate or "cuirass" covering his back and chest, both made of bronze.

2002, Bruce LaFontaine, Warriors Through the Ages, page 6

Where it comes from

1. Middle Englishbrestplate
2. Englishbreastplate

From Middle English brestplate, equivalent to breast + plate. Displaced Old English brēostbeorg.