cataphract

Meaning

Noun

1. (historical) Defensive armour covering the entire body of a soldier and often the soldier's horse as well, especially the linked mail or scale armour of some eastern nations.
2. (broadly, obsolete) An outer covering of some fish resembling armour or plate.

Adj

Of a galley such as a trireme: with the upper tier of rowers shielded rather than exposed.

Opposite of

aphract

Synonyms

suit of armour

coat of mail

body armor

suit of armor

body armour

Translations

دِرْع جِسْمِيّ

دِرْع واقِي لِلْجِسم

مزْرُودة

panòplia

Cataphractaire

cataphractaire

cataphractaires

armatura

catafracta

armadura

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkætəfɹækt/

Etymology

From Latin cataphractes (“suit of armour”), from Ancient Greek κατάφρακτος (katáphraktos, “suit of armour”), from κατα- (kata-, prefix indicating a great degree or intensity) + φρακτός (phraktós, “protected; fenced in”) (from φράσσω (phrássō, “to fortify, secure; to fence in”)) + -της (-tēs, suffix forming nouns indicating a state of being).