mesail Antiq.
Also mursail, mezail.
[a. F. mésail, mézail, mursail, app. repr. OF. mu{cced}aille concealment, f. mucier to hide.]
(See quot.)
| 1869 Boutell Arms & Arm. viii. (1874) 127 This piece, called the mesail, or mursail..but more generally known in England as the ventaile, or visor, was pierced for both sight and breathing. 1870 C. C. Black tr. Demmin's Weapons of War 278 The armet is the most perfect form of helmet. It is composed of the crown with crest, the vizor, nose-piece and ventoyle (these latter three forming altogether the mezail), and the gorget. |