mure

[In Fr. armure; O. Fr. armeure; Sp. & Port, armadura; Ital. & Lat. armatura equipment, outfit, armor; armo = to fit out with implements, to equip; arm a implements, arms.] A. Ordinary Language: 1. Lit .: Defensive arms; a covering designed to protect the body, especially in war, from being injured by any weapon the foe could use. In the authorised version of the Bible it is frequently mentioned under its appropriate name (1 Sam. xvii. 54; 1 Kings xxii. 38, .), and several times under the name harne , which was a term for armor common during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (1 Kings xx. 11; xxii. 34; 2 Chron. ix. 24). [HARNESS.] The heroes of the Trojan war are described by Homer as wearing it. It was in use among the other nations of antiquity, but it was not till the age of chivalry that it reached its full development. From the list of pieces of armor enumerated in the subjoined example, quoted by Nares from Warner, it can be well understood that a knight "in compleat armour" was too well protected to be in much danger from a foe, and too unwieldy to put that foe in much danger. Mail armor was in use from 1066 to 1300. It was tegulated , consisting of little imbricated plates sewn upon a hauberk without sleeves or hood; ringed or chain , consisting of interlocking rings; gamboised , consisting of padded work stitched; scaled , of small circular plates like fish scales. Mixed armor to 1410, chain and plate. Plate armor to 1600, composed of large plates, and entirely enclosing the body . Half armor to eighteenth century, consisting of helmet and body armor only. Armor has almost disappeared in modern warfare, its only remnant being the defence against sword blows worn by cavalry. Recently, however, a bullet-proof coat has been devised, which may be worn by future infantry. "To them in compleat armour seem'd the greene knight to appeare. The burgonet, the bever, buffe, the coller, curates, and The poldrons, grangard, vambraces, gauntlets for either hand, The taishes, cushies, and the graves, staff, pensell, baises, all The greene knight earst had tylted with, that held her love his thrall." Warner: Alb. Engl . , bk. xii., p. 291. ( Nares .) 2. Fig .: Anything designed and fitted to prove a defence against spiritual enemies. The "armour of light " (Rom. xiii. 12), opposed to "the works of darkne ," would seem to be holy deeds. " The armour of righteousne " (2 Cor. vi. 7), as the name implies, is righteousne , justice. The "armour of God" (Eph. vi. 11, 13), is described at length in verses 13 to 20. B. Technically : 1. Law. The Statutes of armor , repealed in the reign of King James I., were ancient enactments requiring every one, according to his rank and estate, to provide a determinate quantity of the weapons then in use, that if required he might aid in the defence of his country against domestic com met i on or foreign invasion. ( Black stone's Comment ., bk. i., chap. 13.) Embezzling or destroying the king's armor or warlike stores was, by 31 Eliz., 3, 4, felony. ( Ibid . , iv. 101, 102.) 2. Her. Coat-armorer: The same as COAT OF ARMS. [ARMS.] 3. Magnetism: The "armor" of a magnet is the same as its armature (q. v.).