HELMET

Defensive armour for the head: a word of Scand in avian derivation. The armour of the ancients, which particularly guarded the head, was known by the general denominations of head-piece, casque, and helmet. Helmets were anciently formed of various materials, but chiefly of skins of beasts, bra , and iron. An open helmet covers only the head, ears, and neck, leaving the face unguarded. Some open helmets have a bar or bars from the forehead to the chin, to guard against the transverse cut of a broad-sword; but it affords little defence ngainst the point of a lance or sword. A close helmet entirely covers the head, face, and neck; having on the front perforations for the admi ion of air, and slits through which the wearer may see the objects around him; this part, which is styled the visor (from the French word viscr, to take aim), lifts up by means of a pivot over each ear. Some helmets have a bever (from buveur, drinker, or from the Italian bevere, to drink), which, when closed, covers the mouth and chin, and either lifts up by revolving on the same pivots as the visor, or lets down by means of two or more pivots on each side near the jaws. The use of the bever was to enable the wearer to eat and drink more commodiously than conld be done in a helmet with a visor only. The helmets of the Greeks and Ro- 552 [s. 566]