Meanings
plural pavaises
- 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
- Old Frenchpavaix
- Middle Frenchpavais
- Englishpavais
From Middle French pavais, Old French pavaix (see modern French pavois); see pavis for more.
More words from Middle French, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
pavais. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pavais
“pavais.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pavais. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pavais,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pavais.
Source: pavais on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.