chamfron

From Old French chanfrain, presumably from champ, chanp (“field, battlefield”) + frein (“bit (between a horse's teeth)”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃam.fɹən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtʃæm.fɹən/

chamfron (plural chamfrons)

1. Protective armor for a horse's head, especially the face and ears.
   • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 29:

     The defensive armor with which the horses of the ancient knights or men at arms were covered, or, to use the language of the time, barded, consisted of the following pieces made either of metal or jacked leather, the Chamfron, Chamfrein or Shaffron, the Criniere or Main Facre, the Poitrenal, Poitral or Breast Plate, and the Croupiere or Buttock Piece.

   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:

     the Sable Knight dealt a stroke on his head, which, glancing from the polished helmet, lighted with violence scarcely abated on the “chamfron” of the steed, and Front-de-Boeuf rolled on the ground, both horse and man equally stunned by the fury of the blow.

   • 1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 555:

     His charger wore a blanket of enameled crimson scales and gilded crinet and chamfron, while Lord Tywin himself sported a thick ermine cloak.

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