BACINET: Relatively light helmet with a rounded or pointed top. Sometimes fitted with a visor and called a bassinet.
BADELAIRE: European sword with a heavy, curved blade and S-shaped quillions; used during the 16th century.
BADGE: An emblematic figure, placed on some prominent part of the clothing of servants and retainers, such as the breast, back, sleeve, etc., to show to what household they belonged; found also on flags, and buildings.
BALDRIC: A silk sash or leather band slung over one shoulder and round the opposite hip. In medieval times it was decorated by silver or gold bells. Later it was fastened on the left hip and carried the sword holder.
BAN: A King's power to command or prohibit any action, under pain of punishment or death, usually because of a break in the "King's Peace." Also a royal proclamation, either of a call to arms or a decree of outlawry. In clerical terms, a ban was an excommunication or condemnation by the church.
BANALITIES: Fees which a feudal lord imposed on his serfs for the use of his mill, oven, wine press, or similar facilities. It sometimes included part of a fish catch or the proceeds from a rabbit warren.
BARBER-SURGEON: A monastic who shaved faces/heads and performed light surgery.
BARBETTE (also GORGET): A piece of white linen pinned to a woman's hair at each side of the head and draped around the chin and in front of the neck. Survives in nun's attire. Worn in the 13th and 14th centuries.
BARBICAN: The gateway or outerworks defending the drawbridge to a castle.
BARBUT (also called BARBUTE and BARBUTA): An open-faced shoulder-length helmet, made in one piece, with a T-shaped face opening.
BARD: A minstrel or poet who glorified the virtues of the people and his chieftains.
BARON: A vassal who served as a member of the king's great council. It was not, of itself, a title, but rather a description of the Tenants-in-Chief class of nobility.
BARONET: Originally English Barons who had lost the right of their individual summons to Parliament. Often these titles were sold to gentlemen willing to set up plantations in Ireland or Nova Scotia.
BASELARD: 13th century European thrusting sword with a straight diamond-shaped blade.
BASILICA: rectangular building used as a meeting hall.
BASTARD SWORD: large, double-edged sword with a long grip which could be wielded with either one or two hands.
BASTION: A small tower located either at the end of a castle's curtain wall or in the middle of the outside wall.
BATTLEMENT (also CRENELATION): A narrow wall built along the outer edge of a castle's wall walk to protect the soldiers from attack.
BEC-DE-CORBIN: type of war-hammer used in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries; pick-like head was fitted with a spear like point for thrusting; normally mounted on a wooden haft with metal reinforcing bands extending down from the head.
BEGUIN (also FLEMISH HOOD): A rectangle of linen carefully folded into a symmetrical headdress and caught together at the nape of the neck.
BENEFICE: A grant of land given to a member of the aristocracy, a Bishop, or a monastery, for limited or hereditary use, in exchange for services. In ecclesiastic terms, a benefice was a church office that returned revenue.
BENEFIT OF CLERGY: A privilege enjoyed by members of the clergy, placing them beyond the jurisdiction of secular courts.
BERM: The flat space between the base of the curtain wall and the inner edge of the moat.
BIGGIN: A cap men wore to bed which tied under the chin with laces or ribbon.
BIRNIE: A mail shirt, the precursor of the hauberk.
BISACUTA: A double-pointed pick used by European foot soldiers in the 14th century; metal head mounted on a wooden haft.
BLACK MONKS: A common name for members of the Benedictine Order, derived from the color of their habits.
BLAZON: The technical language for the written description of armorial bearings.
BLIAUD: An over-tunic worn by both sexes in the early Middle Ages. It was fairly long and belted at the waist, while the skirt was often slit at the sides or in front to allow easier movement. A knee-length bliaud was worn by both peasants and soldiers.
BODICE: 1. The close fitting upper part of a woman's dress. 2. A woman's wide, sleeveless vest tightly laced in front, worn over a blouse or dress, usually low-cut.
BOLTS, CROSSBOW: Shortened arrows used in arbalests; small stocky missiles know for being capable of incredible penetration.
BOMBAST: Padding made of cotton and rags used to stuff in the linings of 16th-century garments.
BONGRACE (1530-1615): A flat, square cap with a short flap of velvet on each side.
BOROUGH: A town granted the right of self-government, by royal charter.
BOWYER: Bow maker.
BRACERS: Plate armour for the arms.
BRAIES: Loose drawers or breeches belted or tied with cord at the waist, the lower end tucked into the hose below the knee. After the 13th century, braies become shorter in the leg as the hose grew longer and, by the later 15th century, became short underpants.
BRAQUEMAR: European sword with a short, double-edged blade.
BREECHES: Trousers reaching to the knees.
BREHON LAWS (also Feinechus): An ancient Gaelic legal system.
BRIGANDINE: 1. Metal splints sewed upon canvas, linen, or leather and covered with similar materials; a material used in making light armour; a "pair of brigandines" is a body-coat of this material, in two pieces 2. Defensive jacket of metal plates on cloth 3. A canvas or leather jacket with small plates of metal stitched inside.
BUM-BARREL (also BUM-ROLLER, WAIST BOLSTER): A padded roll tied around the waist and worn under the skirt, to hold it out.
BUCKLER: 1. A small round shield carried by infantry to deflect blows. 2. A small round shield held by a handle at arm's length. 3. A shield worn on the left arm.
BURGESS: The holder of land or a house within a borough.
BURGONET: Steel cap with chin-piece; from 16th century armour.
BURNOOSE: A sort of upper garment, with a hood attached. 1. Cloaklike garment and hood woven in one piece, worn by Arabs. 2. Combination cloak and hood worn by women. 3. Long hooded cloak woven of wool in one piece; worn by Arabs and Moors.
BUSKIN: Footed leggings with thick sole made from expensive soft leathers and embroidered and brocaded fabrics.
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