casque

American  

[kask] / kæsk /

noun

1. an open, conical helmet with a nose guard, commonly used in the medieval period.

2. any helmet-shaped head covering.

3. Zoology. a process or formation on the head, resembling a helmet.

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casque British  

/ kæsk /

noun

1. zoology a helmet or a helmet-like process or structure, as on the bill of most hornbills

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Other Word Forms

• casqued adjective

Etymology

Origin of casque

1570–80; < Middle French < Spanish casco helmet, head, earthen pot; akin to cascara

Example Sentences

Demand from China is helping drive demand for their distinctive casques, “helmets” in French, which males deploy in battle.

From Seattle Times

The helmeted hornbill is another one: critically endangered owing to land clearing for palm oil plantations, and poaching for its magnificent red ivory casque.

From The Guardian

Much of the tissue under Jary's casque had been destroyed by the disease.

From BBC

When a player for the Denver Nuggets shot an air ball, one of them reflexively shouted in French, “Oh là là! Mettez vos casques!”

From New York Times

But it's the hornbill's helmet, or casque, that sits on top of its bill that is pushing it to the brink of survival.

From BBC