pauldron

Meaning

Noun

• A component of plate armor that protects the shoulder, generally covering more than a spaulder, also protecting the armpit and overlapping with other armor over the upper chest and back.

Origin

• From earlier pouldron, which derives from elements corresponding to French pale ("blade (of a shovel, etc)") + -eron but was semantically influenced by Old French espaule ("shoulder") (whence French épaule). Alternatively, some references derive the Middle English word from Middle French espalleron, espauleron, from Old French espaule. Although a form with d at the end is found in Middle English (polrondys, the d, and the preference since the early 1800s for the spelling and pronunciation with paul- rather than poul-, may be due to the influence of spaulder.