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English speakers first borrowed French's word for a breastplate, plastron, as the name for the protective plate worn under a tunic of [chain mail](/dictionary/chain mail) by knights. In the 17th century, plastron was extended to the pad used to protect the torso of a fencer. Two centuries later, herpetologists appropriated the word for a slightly different type of protection: the underside of a turtle's shell, which consists typically of nine bones overlaid by horny plates. That was followed by the word's application in the world of fashion to coverings that adorn the front of a woman's bodice, such as a lacy bib, as well as to a man's separate or detachable starched shirtfront (which is typically worn under a jacket).

Examples of plastron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To fix the plastron, the center's veterinarian worked with her father, a professor at Marquette University School of Dentistry. — Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2019 Feavel said the turtle was likely hit by a vehicle, which fractured the skull, carapace (top shell) and plastron (bottom shell). — Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2019 The domed carapace covering the back of the animal is connected to the flat plastron on the underside of the animal by a bridge of bone. — Hans-dieter Sues, Smithsonian, 20 Aug. 2019 The origin of the plastron covering the underside of the turtle is less obvious. — Hans-dieter Sues, Smithsonian, 20 Aug. 2019 In all cases, the apes accessed the meat through the bottom of the carapace, breaking a part technically called the plastron. — Douglas Main, National Geographic, 23 May 2019 The cotton poplin plastron shirt took 11 hours to make, according to the French house. — Rosemary Feitelberg | Wwd, latimes.com, 25 Apr. 2018 In all cases, the apes accessed the meat through the bottom of the carapace, breaking a part technically called the plastron. — Douglas Main, National Geographic, 23 May 2019 The cotton poplin plastron shirt took 11 hours to make, according to the French house. — Rosemary Feitelberg | Wwd, latimes.com, 25 Apr. 2018

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