hauberk
(ˈhɔːbək)
Forms: 3– hauberk; also 3 hauberc, 3–5 haubert, 4 haberke, 5 hau-, hawbergh(e, 4–6 hawberk(e, -brek, 5–6 haubrek, 6 hawbrik, habrik.
[a. OF. hauberc, earlier holberc, later (and mod.F.) haubert = Pr. ausberc, It. osbergo, usbergo, med.L. halsberga, etc., a Com. Rom. deriv. of OHG. halsberg, halsperc masc. (also halsberga fem.) = OE. healsbeorᵹ, ON. halsbjǫrg fem., f. hals neck + -bergan to cover, protect (cf. harbour). The OE. word did not survive: the OF. form was introduced in ME. See also the deriv. habergeon.]
A piece of defensive armour: originally intended for the defence of the neck and shoulders; but already in 12th and 13th c. developed into a long coat of mail, or military tunic, usually of ring or chain mail, which adapted itself readily to the motions of the body.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 99 Wyþ haubert noble and ryche. Ibid. 174 With swerd or hauberk eny batail to do. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10029 Hauberk wiþ plates y-burnuscht ful wel. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1573 The Statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge. c 1400 Destr. Troy 5828 Hurlet þurghe the hawbergh, hurt hym full sore. c 1450 Merlin 118 Thei..ronnen agein hym..and smyten hym on the shelde and on the haubrek. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 64 Armours Defensives, as Jakkes Salettis Brigandynes..Haubertis Curesses [etc.]. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. viii. 44 And on the haubergh stroke the Prince so sore, That quite disparted all the linked frame. 1600 Fairfax Tasso i. lxxii. 15 Some dond a curace, some a corslet bright, An hawberke some, and some a haberion. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. lviii. 434 His breast was defended by an hauberk or coat of mail. 1870 Lowell Study Wind. 242 My ears no sweeter music know Than hauberk's clank with saddle⁓bow. 1887 Bowen Virg. æneid v. 259 Hauberk woven of polished chain. |
† b. worn as a garment for penance. Obs.
| c 1305 Edmund Conf. 28 in E.E.P. (1862) 71 Þe moder werede harde hare..and harde hauberk aboue; In suche penance heo ladde hire lyf. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶980 Clothing of whiche Ihesu crist is moore apayed than of heyres or haubergeons or hauberkes. |