chausse

plural chausses

1. historicalArmor for the legs, usually made of mail, either covering the entire leg from foot to thigh, or variously covering only the thigh or only the calf and foot, with the chausson covering the other half of the leg.

   As the period advanced, the legs were covered with mail chaussons above the knee, and below it with chausses, which were made to cover the feet.

   1907, British Museum, Department of British and Mediaeval Antiquities, Guide to the Mediaeval Room and to the Specimens of Mediaeval and Later Times in the Gold Ornament Room, page 61

   2 more examples

   The hauberk is shown continuous with the coif; the legs are protected by chausses of some pliable material, thickly covered with protective studs.

   1909, Charles Henry Ashdown, European Arms & Armor, page 76

   Daniel grins, feeling the shiv skid off his newly bought chausse. No more getting stabbed in the thigh by these too-short monsters. It was a pain trying to block attacks that came so low with his shield - he either had to stay crouched ...

   2021, Tao Wong, Adventures on Brad: Books 1-6, Starlit Publishing, →ISBN

2. historicalA stocking, clothing covering the leg.

   A single seam ran under the foot and all the way up the back of the leg; each chausse was cut on the bias of the woollen cloth, so as to retain a degree of elasticity.

   2004, Pierre Bouet, The Bayeux Tapestry: Embroidering the Facts of History, Presses Universitaires de Caen

   1 more example

   He clasped Matthew tightly on the shoulder. “As I began . . . since my loyal squire is dead, and I am somewhat wounded, more than I'd thought. . .” He pointed to his thigh, where his chausse was ripped and blood dripped to the ground.

   2012, Johanna Hill, Song of the Rose, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN

plural Chausses

1. A surname from French.