vambrace Now only Archæol.
(ˈvæmbreɪs)
Forms: α. 4 vaumbras, 4–6 vambras (-brase, 5 uambras, 6 Sc. wambraiss), 7 vambrasse (8 -brass). β. 4– vambrace (5 wam-, 7 van-).
[var. of vaunt- vantbrace, through elision of t and change of nb to mb by assimilation.]
Defensive armour for the (fore-) arm.
| α c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10030 Vaumbras & rerbras, wyþ coters of stel. 1385–6 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 133, ij palets, j brestplat, vambras. 1392 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) I. 171 Unum bonum par cerotecarum de plate, cum vambrase et rerebrase. 1461 Will of Benney (Somerset Ho.), j salett garnisshed cum argento, legharnes, vambras, & rerebras. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV, 12 One sorte had the vambrases, the pace gardes, the grand⁓gardes..parted with golde and azure. 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. ii. 165 To haue good..poldrones and vambrases for their shoulders & armes. 1627 Drayton Agincourt 8 [Whether] The Vambrasse, or the Pouldron, they should prize. |
| β 1411 E.E. Wills (1882) 19 A pare of vambrace and rerebrace. c 1450 J. Metham Wks. (E.E.T.S.) 37 Thys knyghtys vambracys in coloure Alle depeyntyd with red were. 1513 MS. Papers 5 Hen. VIII, No. 4101 (P.R.O.), His vambraces, polvorines, ij Salettes [etc.]. 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. i. 44 A fayre Corslet, with all the peeces appertaining to the same, that is the curats, y⊇ collers, the poldrens with the Vambraces. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia iii. ii. 47 On his arme..an Otters skinne, or some such matter for his vambrace. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. iii. 44 They have likewise the Coat of Mail, the Cuirats, the Head-piece, and a Vambrace fastened to the Sword. 1734 tr. Rollin's Rom. Hist. (1827) II. 379 The vambraces or greaves which covered the arms, thighs, and legs of the horsemen. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xxxii, Among gauntlets, boots, vambraces, and such like gear. 1850 Boutell in Gentl. Mag. CXX. ii. 44 The arms are cased in brassarts and vambraces of plate. |
| transf. 1766 Phil. Trans. LVI. 274, I supported the arm with a vambrace, or half-canal, made of one very thin piece of wood. |