breastplate

/ˈbrɛstˌpleɪt/
noun
  1. A piece of armor that covers the chest, worn by soldiers or knights.
    • He felt safe behind his thick steel breastplate during the battle.
    • Medieval breastplates were often engraved with the wearer's coat of arms.
    • The knight polished his breastplate until it shone in the sunlight.
  2. A protective piece of equipment worn on the chest in certain sports, such as fencing or baseball (catcher's gear).
    • The catcher adjusted his breastplate before the pitcher threw the ball.
    • Fencers wear a padded breastplate to protect against hits.
    • She bought a new breastplate for her horseback riding vest.
  3. A part of a horse's harness that lies across the chest, used to keep the saddle from slipping backward.
    • The rider checked the breastplate to ensure it was snug on the horse.
    • A leather breastplate helps distribute pressure when the horse pulls a cart.
    • He attached the breastplate to the saddle girth before mounting.
Synonyms
What does "breastplate" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean