breastplate
Americannoun
-
a piece of plate armor partially or completely covering the front of the torso: used by itself or as part of a cuirass.
-
the part of the harness that runs across the chest of a saddle horse.
-
Judaism.
-
a square, richly embroidered vestment ornamented with 12 precious stones, each inscribed with the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel, secured to the ephod of the high priest and worn on the chest. Exodus 28:15–28.
-
a rectangular ornament, typically of silver, suspended by a chain over the front of a scroll of the Torah.
-
-
a plate opposite the chuck end of a breast drill against which the operator's chest is placed.
noun
-
a piece of armour covering the chest
-
the strap of a harness covering a horse's breast
-
Judaism an ornamental silver plate hung on the scrolls of the Torah
-
Old Testament a square vestment ornamented with 12 precious stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, worn by the high priest when praying before the holy of holies
-
zoology a nontechnical name for plastron
Etymology
Origin of breastplate
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English brestplate; see origin at breast, plate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to the artists, known together as Whitaker Malem, the breastplate was moulded from Jones's 1969 sculpture Hatstand, with the 88-year-old artist painting the attached leather skirt.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
Or perhaps he resembles Paul Mescal, brooding, slicked in oil, and strapped into Crowe’s old breastplate.
From Salon • Nov. 26, 2024
A piece that was actually made of wood would be very heavy, so we worked with artists who sculpted the breastplate out of clay, then cast and painted it to look like wood.
From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2022
And then there’s the lovely, loony sight of Russell Crowe, gamely chasséing in a golden breastplate and white tutu as the Greek god Zeus.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2022
He opened the silver fastenings of his breastplate and let that fall as well.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
