ventail

[ ven-teyl ]

noun

1. the pivoted middle element of a face defense of a close helmet.
2. a flap of mail attached to a coif and fastened across the lower part of the face during combat.

ventail

/ ˈvɛnteɪl /

noun

1. (in medieval armour) a covering for the lower part of the face

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventail¹

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French ventaille, equivalent to vent (< Latin ventus wind ¹ ) + -aille -al ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventail¹

C14: from Old French ventaille sluice, from vent wind, from Latin ventus

Example Sentences

It has a tilting helmet with visor in two pieces, and a shutter in the ventail; the leg-armour is still complete.

From Project Gutenberg

The other drags him by the helmet, tearing all the fastening, and he strikes from his head the ventail and the gleaming coif.

From Project Gutenberg

The ventail bris dates from the period of the first introduction of the folded fan into Europe.

From Project Gutenberg

The upper part is the visor, to admit of vision, the lower the ventail, to admit of breathing.

From Project Gutenberg

I fail to see why; the weapon that pierced a ventail would pass into the head, and inflict a death-wound.

From Project Gutenberg