pavais

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A form of pavis — Most usually, a very large shield fitted with a stand, like a small moveable wall, carried in front to protect all or most of the bearer's body that could be positioned independently of the user, such as a crossbowman, often with a projecting ridge running vertically down the center. However, smaller, more standard shield types were also termed as such, with the central verticle ridge as a defining feature.

Scrabble 11

Meanings

nounpavais (plural pavaises)

plural pavaises

  1. alternativeAlternative form of pavis.

    The pavais, pavache, or tallevas was a large shield, or rather a portable mantlet, capable of covering a man from head to foot, and probably of sufficient thickness to resist the missive weapons then in use.

    1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 27

Origin

  1. Old Frenchpavaix
  2. Middle Frenchpavais
  3. Englishpavais

From Middle French pavais, Old French pavaix (see modern French pavois); see pavis for more.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pavais. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pavais

MLA

“pavais.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pavais. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pavais,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pavais.

Source: pavais on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.