pavisse
/pəˈviːs/
noun
- A large shield used in medieval times to protect the whole body, often carried by a soldier or used as a portable barrier.
- The knight carried a heavy pavisse into battle to block arrows.
- Archers would sometimes set up a pavisse on the ground for cover while reloading.
- In the museum, we saw a beautifully painted pavisse from the 14th century.