Dictionary

gambeson en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡæm.bɪ.sən/

Etymology

From Middle English gambison, from Old French gambeson, gambaison, from gambais, wambais (“quilted jerkin”), from Medieval Latin wambāsium (“doublet, waistcoat”), from Frankish *wamba (“abdomen, belly”), from Proto-Germanic *wambō (“belly, womb”): compare Middle High German wambeis, German Wams (“waistcoat, doublet”), from Old High German wamba (“stomach”). More at womb.

Meanings

1. (historical) A defensive garment formerly in use for the body, made of cloth stuffed and quilted, often worn as padding under armor.
   • The uniform jacket is a kind of padded armor called "gambeson." Layers of quilted cloth. 2024, Cube Kid [pseudonym; Erik Gunnar Taylor], Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: Shadow over Aetheria, page 51:
   • Although the gambeson was chiefly worn under the coat of mail, to protect the body from being bruised by the strokes of the sword or lance, a circumstance that might happen without a division of the mail, the verses quoted in the Siege of Karleverok, shew that it was sometimes worn as a fur coat, and ornamented with rich decorations. 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 18:

Forms

Coordinates

pourpoint · haustement · aketon

Translations (18)

is vápntreyja (armor) · fr gambison (armor) · pl przeszywanica (armor) · es gambesón (armor) · nl wambuis (armor) · gmq-osw vapntrøia (armor) · fro jaque (armor) · pl gambeson (armor) · fi toppatakki (armor) · it giaco (armor) · non vápntreyja (armor) · fi gambesoni (armor) · pl aketon (armor) · sv vapentröja (armor) · gmq-osw vapnetrøia (armor) · pt jaquetão (armor) · sv vapnetröja (armor) · pt jaque (armor)