breastplate

noun

breast·​plate ˈbres(t)-ˌplāt How to pronounce breastplate (audio)
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 Truly, where did Sapphira get that new breastplate from? Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2024 The star wore another meaningful look during the broadcast — a gold breastplate adorned with seven 3D roses. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024 The apes, capable of speech and wearing substandard breastplates that might have been bought at a Roman Empire warehouse sale, have taken over the world. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 10 May 2024 The first sighting is allegedly in the Book of Exodus, which describes a breastplate worn by Aaron adorned with 12 different stones, each representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel and featuring carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, and other gems. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for breastplate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breastplate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breastplate was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near breastplate

Cite this Entry

“Breastplate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breastplate. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

breastplate

noun
breast·​plate ˈbres(t)-ˌplāt How to pronounce breastplate (audio)
: metal armor for covering the breast

More from Merriam-Webster on breastplate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!