chainmail

IPA/tʃˈeɪnmeɪl/
IPA/tʃˈeɪnmeɪl/

chainmail — noun

1. a type of protective clothing worn in battle, made from many small metal rings l

1.nounB2
Definition

a type of protective clothing worn in battle, made from many small metal rings linked together to form a flexible covering for the body.

Example

The museum's medieval exhibit featured a suit of chainmail that had belonged to a twelfth-century knight.

collocation: suit of chainmail

Chainmail was effective against sword cuts but offered little protection from arrows.

passive: was effective against / offered little protection from

Common collocations
  • suit of chainmail
  • chainmail armour
  • wear chainmail
  • a shirt of chainmail
  • chainmail hauberk
Synonyms
  • mail

    shorter historical term for the same material; sounds more specialised

  • chain armour

    chiefly British spelling; less common in modern usage

Antonyms
  • plate armour

    a different type of medieval body protection made from large metal plates rather than rings

Grammar Patterns

chainmail [is/was] ...

suit of chainmail

Usage Note

also written as chain mail (two words); the term 'mail' alone can refer to the same material.

Common Mistakes

The knight wore a chainmail on his head.
The knight wore a coif of chainmail on his head.
chainmail is uncountable; use 'a piece of chainmail' or specify the garment.