byrnie

American  

[bur-nee] / ˈbɜr ni /

noun

Armor.

1. a coat of mail; hauberk.

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byrnie British  

/ ˈbɜːnɪ /

noun

1. an archaic word for coat of mail

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Etymology

Origin of byrnie

1325–75; Middle English byrny, Scottish variant of brynie, brinie < Old Norse brynja, cognate with Old English byrne coat of mail, Old High German brunnia

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

byrnie

Unferth stood beside him, his huge arms folded on his byrnie.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Those among the audience who have been carefully reading the translation up to this point, here look up and closely watch Siegfried's proceedings, being evidently uncertain as to what "his byrnie" may be.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, June 18, 1892 by Various

Then he entered the cave and set a plain black steel helm upon his black locks, and a black chain byrnie about his breast.

From Eric Brighteyes by Henry Rider Haggard

It is true that only one trace of a byrnie, and that apparently not of ring-mail, has so far been found in an Anglo-Saxon grave.

From Beowulf An Introduction to the Study of the Poem with a Discussion of the Stories of Offa and Finn by R. W. Chambers

And we are told in the Icelandic that Odin, whilst he gave a sword to Sigmund, gave a helm and byrnie to Hermoth.

From Beowulf An Introduction to the Study of the Poem with a Discussion of the Stories of Offa and Finn by R. W. Chambers

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