pavis
or pav·ise
[ pav-is ]
/ ˈpæv ɪs /
noun
a large oblong shield of the late 14th through the early 16th centuries, often covering the entire body and used especially by archers and soldiers of the infantry.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for pavis
The former monarch devised for them a system of tactics, in which the pavise was made to play a prominent part.
The Art of War in the Middle Ages A.D. 378-1515|C. W. C. OmanThe shield itself or pavise was large, made of wood covered with skin, and surrounded with a broad rim of iron.
British Dictionary definitions for pavis
pavis
pavise
/ (ˈpævɪs) /
noun
a large square shield, developed in the 15th century, at first portable but later heavy and set up in a permanent position
Word Origin for pavis
C14: from Old French pavais, from Italian pavese of Pavia, Italian city where these shields were originally made
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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