poleyn

P3O1L1E1Y4N1
UK/ˈpɒlɪn/UK/ˈpɒleɪn/US/ˈpoʊˌleɪn/

noun

The part of medieval armour that protected the knee.

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:poleyn.”

OriginMiddle English polein(e) ← Anglo-Norman polein →
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Meanings

nounpoleyn (plural poleyns)

plural poleyns · alternative poleine

  1. historicalThe part of medieval armour that protected the knee.
  2. rareRare form of poulaine (“(shoe with a) pointed toe”).

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:poleyn.

Origin

  1. Anglo-Normanpolein“knee armor”
  2. Middle Englishpolein(e)“knee armor”
  3. Englishpoleyn

From Middle English polein(e) (“knee armor”), from Anglo-Norman polein (“knee armor”). Possibly related to poulaine (“pointed toe on a shoe”).

More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

openlypyelon
Cite this entry
APA

poleyn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poleyn

MLA

“poleyn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poleyn. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “poleyn,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poleyn.

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