cuirass

noun

cui·​rass kwi-ˈras 

kyu̇-

1

: a piece of armor covering the body from neck to waist

also : the breastplate of such a piece

2

: something (such as bony plates covering an animal) resembling a cuirass

cuirassed

kwi-ˈrast 

kyu̇-

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The cuirass, with a huge hole through both the front and back plates, is now in the collection of the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, with other items from the Napoleonic era. —Peter Suciu, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022

Yet whoever was wearing it on 18 June 1815, this cuirass serves to emphasise the brutality of Napoleonic warfare at a most personal level. —Peter Suciu, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022

My favourite application of bronze has always been the cuirass (breastplate), shield, spear, sword and greaves of the Spartan soldiers. —Wei Koh, A-LIST, 3 Apr. 2018

The remains of the tunic-like garment, known as a cuirass, are held in the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. —James Rogers, Fox News, 26 Mar. 2018

The cuirass suffered damage during the excavation, likely while being removed from its original box and when an attempt was made to unfold it. —James Rogers, Fox News, 26 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English curas, from Middle French cuirasse, probably from Old Occitan coirassa, from Late Latin coreacea, feminine of coreaceus leathern, from Latin corium skin, leather; akin to Old English heortha deerskin, Latin cortex bark, Greek keirein to cut — more at shear

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cuirass

noun

cui·​rass kwi-ˈras 

kyu̇-

: a piece of armor covering the body from neck to waist

also : the breastplate of such a piece

Medical Definition

cuirass

noun

cui·​rass kwi-ˈras, kyu̇- 

1

: a plaster cast for the trunk and neck

2

: a respirator that covers the chest or the chest and abdomen and provides artificial respiration by means of an electric pump