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

Example Sentences

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

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Nay, sweet, my May, Valhalla shuts its gates to me, a deedless man; up Bifrost's rainbow bridge I may not travel, for I do not die with byrnie on breast and sword aloft.

From Eric Brighteyes by Haggard, Henry Rider

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

These were the helmet Hildegolt; the byrnie Finnsleif, which no steel could scathe; and the gold ring called Sviagris, which had 216 belonged to Adils’ forefathers.

From The Younger Edda Also called Snorre's Edda, or The Prose Edda by Anderson, Rasmus Björn

Ger. brunige, br�nje, br�nne, a cuirass or coat of mail, O. Eng. byrnie, and O.H.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various