Cuirass
a breastplate; a covering for the breast; originally, as the name denotes, of leather, also of quilted linen, cloth, etc. The cuirass of plate-armor succeeded the hauberk, hacqueton, etc., of mail, about the reign of Edward III.; and from that period the surcoat, jupon, etc., which were usually worn over the coat of mail, began to be laid aside. From that time too the cuirass or breastplate continued to be worn, and was the last piece of defensive armor laid aside in actual warfare. There were cuirassiers in the English civil wars, and in the French service nearly to the end of the 17th century; after this period, the cuirass was generally laid aside, until it was again employed by some of Napoleon's regiments, and it is now, in most European services, worn by some regiments of heavy cavalry.