gorget
Americannoun
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a patch on the throat of a bird or other animal, distinguished by its color, texture, etc.
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a piece of armor for the throat.
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a crescent-shaped ornament worn on a chain around the neck as a badge of rank by officers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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a wimple of the Middle Ages, worn with the ends fastened in the hair.
noun
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a collar-like piece of armour worn to protect the throat
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a part of a wimple worn by women to cover the throat and chest, esp in the 14th century
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a band of distinctive colour on the throat of an animal, esp a bird
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gorget
Explanation
A gorget is a special piece of armor that protects a soldier's neck. Medieval suits of armor commonly included a circular gorget that fit under the metal breastplate. If you've ever seen pictures of suits of armor worn by knights, you've probably seen a gorget. Through different eras, it changed from a leather collar to a steel plate, or a series of interconnected plates, all intended to protect the neck and throat during battle. The original gorget was simply a Medieval woman's linen neck scarf. The root of gorget is the Old French word gorge, which means "throat."
Vocabulary lists containing gorget
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.
A skirt of lobstered metal cov-ered him from waist to midthigh, while a solid gorget encircled his throat.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
He had to make do with oddments assembled from Lord Lefford's wagons: mail hauberk and coif, a dead knight's gorget, lobstered greaves and gauntlets and pointed steel boots.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
The knight was clad in chainmail, with gauntlets and greaves of lobstered steel and a heavy gorget around his throat, but he had not thought to don his helm.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
He fumbled, and the gorget he was trying to fit around Robert's thick neck tumbled to the ground.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Horse and Hop-Robin fetched padding for the lord commander, along with a ringmail hauberk to go over it, and greaves, gorget, and halfhelm.
From "A Dance with Dragons" 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.
