aventail, -ayle
(ˈævənteɪl)
Forms: 4–9 aventail(e, -ayle, 4–5 aventaille, -ale, avantaille, adventayle.
[a. AF. *aventail = OF. esventail air-hole, f. esventer (see prec.): the Lat. type is *exventaculum (cf. prōpugnāculum). For the form in adv-, see ad- prefix 2.]
The movable front or mouthpiece of a helmet, which may be raised to admit fresh air.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 608 Wyth a lyȝtli vrysoun ouer þe auentayle. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 1558 As he drough a kynge by th' avantaille. a 1400 Octouian 1153 Hys adventayle he gan unlace. 1460 Lybeaus Disc. 1618 Pysane, aventayle, and gorgere. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. ii. iii, And lifted his barred aventayle. 1842 Blackw. Mag. LII. 171 With pierced aventails for the eyes and mouth. |