plastron

noun

plas·tron | \ ˈpla-strən

Definition of plastron

1a : a metal breastplate formerly worn under the hauberk

b : a quilted pad worn in fencing to protect the chest, waist, and the side on which the weapon is held

2 : the ventral part of the shell of a tortoise or turtle consisting typically of nine symmetrically placed bones overlaid by horny plates

3a : a trimming like a bib for a woman's dress

b : dickey sense 1a

4 : a thin film of air held by water-repellent hairs of some aquatic insects

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about plastron

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Did You Know?

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

The origin of the plastron covering the underside of the turtle is less obvious. — Hans-dieter Sues, Smithsonian, "How the Turtle Got Its Shell, With Apologies to Aesop," 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, "In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises," 23 May 2019 The cotton poplin plastron shirt took 11 hours to make, according to the French house. — Rosemary Feitelberg | Wwd, latimes.com, "Melania Trump wears Chanel for first state dinner, Brigitte Macron goes with Louis Vuitton," 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, "In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises," 23 May 2019 The cotton poplin plastron shirt took 11 hours to make, according to the French house. — Rosemary Feitelberg | Wwd, latimes.com, "Melania Trump wears Chanel for first state dinner, Brigitte Macron goes with Louis Vuitton," 25 Apr. 2018 The main reason is that researchers cannot decipher the characters cut into the ox shoulder blades and turtle plastrons used for the soothe-saying, stymieing efforts to understand the writing system. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Museum Offers $15,000 Per Character to Decipher Oracle Bone Script," 26 July 2017 The main reason is that researchers cannot decipher the characters cut into the ox shoulder blades and turtle plastrons used for the soothe-saying, stymieing efforts to understand the writing system. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Museum Offers $15,000 Per Character to Decipher Oracle Bone Script," 26 July 2017 Males can be identified by their concave plastron, or bottom shell, which assists them in mating. — National Geographic, "Amputee Tortoise Gets Moving With Wheels," 17 June 2016

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.