halecret

First attested in English in 1536 as halkrig and 1540 as halkrik, taken to be from Middle French halecret,[1][2] itself first attested in 1488 as aldecrez (plural) and 1489 as hallecretz (plural),[3] of uncertain origin. Compare Breton halacred. Perhaps from Middle Dutch halscleet (“gorget”)[3] (see hals (“neck, throat”), cleet (“piece of clothing”)), or related to German Halskragen.

• IPA^(key): /ˈhæl.ɪˌkɹɛt/

halecret (plural halecrets)

1. (military, historical) A kind of light armour protecting the bust, used in the 16th century, usually thought to have been a corselet or light cuirass.
   • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, […], London: […] S. Hooper, […], →OCLC, page 19:

     The halecret was a kind of corcelet of tvvo pieces, one before and one behind, it was lighter than the cuiraſs.

• allecret, hallecret

• chelater, cleareth

halecret m (plural halecrets)

1. halecret

• “halecret”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.