breastplate

noun

breast·plate | \ ˈbres(t)-ˌplāt

Definition of breastplate

1 : a usually metal plate worn as defensive armor for the breast — see armor illustration

2 : a vestment worn in ancient times by a Jewish high priest and set with 12 gems bearing the names of the tribes of Israel

3 : a piece against which a worker's breast is pressed in operating a tool (such as a breast drill)

Examples of breastplate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But beneath that breastplate of horror, there are layers upon layers of sarcophagi limiting the agency and humanity of people like me. — Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 15 Apr. 2021 Nearly 40 years later, the two items — a ceremonial helmet and a breastplate — were identified in the private collection of a family in Bordeaux, in western France. — Jenny Gross, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Mar. 2021 Why then, an astute observer might ask, does Kahmora show up to set wearing full hip/ass pads and a breastplate with erect nipples? — Paul Mccallion, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2021 The color palette was also more subdued: a deeper red breastplate (with muted stars), dark blue shorts and boots, and silver accessories (save for the golden lasso of truth). — New York Times, 29 Dec. 2020 In the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition of Central and Eastern Europe, such breastplate-like shields are placed on the textile mantle covering a Torah scroll. — J.s. Marcus, WSJ, 11 Dec. 2020 His costume featured a menacing grilled face mask, a glistening black helmet modeled after samurai headgear, a leather jumpsuit, black gloves, knee-high boots, a sweeping cape and a flashing electronic chest panel on a fiberglass breastplate. — Louie Estrada, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2020 Fans noticed your armor this season has a breastplate not entirely unlike that of Darth Vader. — James Hibberd, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2020 Killing a man in full bronze armor—helmet, breastplate, greaves—was not an easy task. — Anne Carson, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breastplate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.