pavis

noun pav·is

variants: or pavise or less commonly pavais \ˈpavə̇s\

Definition of pavis

plural pavises

: a large shield covering the whole body used especially in siege operations to protect crossbowmen and sometimes carried by a pavisor before a knight or archer

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Origin and Etymology of pavis

Middle English pavis, pavise, from Middle French pavais, from Old Italian pavese, probably from pavese of Pavia, city in northeast Italy where pavises were made, from Pavia + -ese