Pauldrons are a type of armor that are designed to protect the shoulders and upper arms. They have been used throughout history by various cultures and armies, and have evolved in design and function over time. In addition to providing protection, pauldrons can also be ornamental, with intricate designs and embellishments that indicate rank or status. One interesting aspect of pauldrons is their use in jousting tournaments during the medieval period. Jousting armor was designed to be both protective and decorative, and pauldrons played a key role in this. They were often adorned with heraldic symbols and other decorative elements, and were designed to be easily detachable in case of emergency. Another important aspect of pauldrons is their use in modern military uniforms. While traditional armor has largely been replaced by modern materials such as Kevlar, pauldrons are still used in some military uniforms as a decorative element. They can also be found in some ceremonial uniforms, such as those worn by honor guards. Overall, pauldrons are a fascinating piece of armor with a rich history and cultural significance. Whether used for protection or decoration, they continue to be an important part of military and historical traditions.
armor, protection, decoration, history, military
CITATION : "John Allen. 'Pauldrons.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=371164 (Accessed on August 02, 2025)"
The word “Pauldrons” is believed to have originated from the Late Middle English word “poldren”. This word was used to describe a pauldron, a type of armour that consists of two pieces of hardened steel, designed to protect the shoulders. The word evolved from the Middle French word “pouldure” and the Old French “poldre”, which can further be traced back to the Latin word “pulvinar” which means couch or cushion. The word has become an important symbol of protection and strength and is used as both a noun and an adjective in modern English. Morphologically, we can see the evolution from the Latin word “pulvinar” to the Middle French “pouldure”, and then to the current “Pauldrons”. Pragmatically, the word is still used to describe a piece of armour which is used to protect the shoulders, but more importantly it has become a symbol of strength and power.
Etymology, Morphology, Armor, Protection, Cushion
Pauldrons is a noun which refers to a type of armor typically used to protect the shoulders. This word has multiple synonyms associated with it such as shoulder armor, shoulder guards, and shoulder pieces. Some antonyms of the word pauldrons include no protection, inadequate defense, and weak protection. Cognates for the word pauldrons include the French version of the word épaulettes and the German version of the word schulterstücke. Variants of the word include pauldrons, poldrons, pauldrone, poldrone, and poldrons.
Etymology Morphology Pauldrons Shoulder Armor Origins Synonyms Antonyms Cognates Variants
Pauldrons are the protective armor plates that extend from the neck to the shoulders. The unique design of this armor has been utilized in a variety of cultures throughout the world, each of them adapting the design to suit their own warfare needs. In Latin, pauldron is referred to as lorica manicata or manica thoracalis, in German it is known as “schulterschutz” or “schulterklappe”, and in Dutch it is known as “schouderbescherming” or “schouderplaat”. French suggests “épaulette”, while Italian goes by “gambiere”, and Spanish by “escapulario”. Other terms include “dysphendas” (Greek), “kolsuzluk” (Turkish), “bazuband” (Persian), “pandura” (Hungarian), “armero” (Portuguese), “kozuch” (Russian), and “bracciolo” (Italian).
Protecting armor plate, neck to shoulder armor, lorica manicata, manica thoracalis, schulterschutz, schulterklappe, schouderbescherming, schouderplaat, épaulette, gambiere, escapulario, dysphendas, kolsuzluk, bazuband, pandura, armero, kozuch, bracciolo.
Pauldrons, also known as shoulder armor or shoulder plates, are a type of clothing or armor as seen in anime, comics or manga. They are typically an embellished piece of armor which wraps around the shoulders and covers the upper arm, wrists and sometimes chest. These pieces of armor help to add a sense of grandeur to the character and can help indicate power or strength. They are often used to denote a sense of authority or importance in a character and have become a staple of many anime and manga series.
Anime, manga, pauldrons, armor, clothing, character design.
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