† camail Obs. exc. Hist.
[a. F. camail = Pr. capmalh, It. camaglio; acc. to Diez f. cap head + mail mail, and thus orig. ‘head-armour’.]
1. A piece of chain-mail armour attached to the basinet or head-piece, and protecting the neck and shoulders. In comb., as camail-lace.
| 1826 A. E. Bray De Foix xi. (1884) 127 The dagger therefore slipped out, and sliding athwart the camail of his opponent fell to the ground. 1874 Boutell Arms & Arm. viii. 127 In England the basinet was constantly worn with the camail, but without any ventaile. Ibid. x. 197 The camail-lace or other mode of attachment was covered by a plate, generally enriched, which formed a part of the basinet. |
2. (See quot.)
| 1670 R. Lassels Voy. Italy (1698) I. 147 The Canons in the Quire wear a rochet and camail. 1681 Blount Glossogr., Camail (Fr.) a Hood to cover the head in foul weather: also a blew or purple ornament, worn by Bishops above their Rochets, and reaching as low as the bent of the arm. 1823 Crabb Techn. Dict., Camail (Eccl.), a purple ornament worn by a bishop over his rochet. |
3. ‘A capuchin or short cloak, sometimes of fur’.
| 1858 in Simmonds Dict. Trade. |
Hence camailed a., having a camail.
| 1874 Boutell Arms & Arm. viii. 128 In England the camailed basinet ceased to be worn when the 15th century was only two or three years old. |