CABACETE: Type of war hat popular in fifteenth century Europe with a turned-down brim which was drawn up to a point in the front and rear with an almond-shaped skull.
CANIONS (1570-1620): Tubular, thigh-hugging extensions worn from breeches to knee. Separate "netherstocks" could be gartered either over or under them.
CANTING ARMS: A coat of arms where the "charge" is a pun on the owner's name.
CASQUE: A light open helmet, these were often similar in shape to the burgonet and popular in the 15th and 16th centuries.
CASSOCK (1530-1660): Worn by men and women, this was a loose, hip-length coat with a small collar or hood.
CAT-O'-NINE TAILS: European whip used in flogging; leather thongs were usually knotted at their ends and were sometimes fitted with metal spikes to tear the flesh of the victim.
CERVELLAIRE: Small skull cap worn under the great helmet (greathelm) during the last part of the 13th century and into the early 14th century.
CAUL: A skull cap of silk, worn alone or under a hat, often worn by maidens, or a bag-shaped hair net (of gold mesh lined with silk, or made entirely of silk thread with human hair), which held the hair back in a coil.
CESTROSPHENDONE: Sling dart consisting of a wooden pole with a leaf-shaped blade, attached behind with two or three fixed vanes of wood; sling was fitted at the tip and behind the vanes and the dart then spun above the head; effective range was about fifty meters.
CHAINSE: A white long-sleeved undertunic of fine linen worn in the early Middle Ages. In feminine costume it was ground-length. Later it developed into the shirt and the chemise.
CHAMBERLAIN: An officer of the royal household responsible for the Chamber, meaning that he controled access to the person of the king. He was also responsible for administration of the household and the private estates of the king. The Chamberlain was one of the four main officers of the court, the others being the Chancellor, the Justiciar, and the Treasurer.
CHANCELLOR: The officer of the royal household who served as the monarch's secretary or notary. The Chancellor was responsible for the Chancery, the arm of the royal government dealing with domestic and foreign affairs. Usually the person filling this office was a Bishop chosen for his knowledge of the law.
CHANFRON: Armor for a horse's head.
CHANSONS DE GESTE: Literally "songs of deeds," they were epic poems composed by troubadours and sung by jongleurs to audiences gathered at the halls of nobles, or in public places.
CHAPEL DE FER: An iron cap that was a domed helmet, made in three or more pieces, with a wide brow around the outside. During the 14th century it was widely used by English and French men-at-arms and bachelier knights who could not afford a bascinet.
CHARGE: The generic term for pictorial representations that can be placed on various parts of a shield (such as animals, plants, or objects).
CHARTER OF FRANCHISE: Documents granting liberty to a serf by his lord, or the freedom of servitude to feudal lords, granted to the inhabitants of a town or borough.
CHAUSSES: Mail protection for the legs (particularly the thighs), either in the form of mail hose or strips of mail laced round the front of the leg.
CHIVALRY: Code of behavior/ethics for knights, based on telling the truth, keeping one's word and protecting those weaker than oneself.
CINQUEFOIL: A stylized flower with five radiating petals or leaves, used in heraldry.
CIRCLET: A circular band worn as an ornament on the finger, arm, neck or head.
CLAYMORE (also called greatswords): Large two-handed swords popular in Scotland during the 15th, 16th and the 17th centuries. Ranging in length from 50" to 72", they possessed handles that were 18" - 21" in length.
CODPIECE (or Braguette): Originally an inverted triangular section of cloth sewn into the hose around a man's groin, the codpiece by the 16th century was padded and boned and became so large that it was often used to carry small weapons, jewels, or food (hence the reference to a man's genetalia as the "family jewels").
COFFER: 1. A chest in which money or valuables are kept. 2. A treasury; funds.
COG: A type of substantial sailing ship.
COIF: 1. A cap that fits the head loosely. 2. A thick skullcap, as of leather, formerly worn under a hood of mail. 3. Mail hood covering the head.
CONSTABLE: An officer who commanded an army or an important garrison, or the officer who commanded in the king's absence.
CORSLET: A light half-armour popular in the sixteenth century for general military use; consisted of a gorget, breast, back and tassets, full arms and guantlets.
COTE ARMOUR: Quilted garment worn over a breastplate, cote of plates, or as the sole body defense during the 14th century.
COTEHARDIE: A term used extensively for both feminine gowns and masculine tunics from 1300 until 1430. It is generally applied to fitting garments, buttoned part- or full-length, and having long or half sleeves.
COTTAGER: A peasant of lower class who owned a cottage, but owned little or no land.
COUNT: The continental equivalent of the English Earl, ranked second only to a Duke.
CRESPIN (or CREPPIN): A fine, linen cap.
CREST: A generic term for the ornaments mounted on helmets.
CROSS-GARTERING: Strips of linen wound round the braies to hold them in position.
CUDGEL: European practice sword made of wood and fitted with a basket hilt; used in broadsword practice.
CUIRASS: Plate defense for the body. Consisting of a breast and backplate, hoops of steel to defend the hips known as faulds, and tassets to defend the hips.
CUISSES: Plate armor pieces protecting the thighs.
CULDEES: Meaning "servant of God," they were Irish/Scottish preservers of old Gaelic customs.
CURTAIN WALL: The high wall that surrounded the inner ward, or the open area in the center of a castle.
CUTLASS: A short, thick, curving sword with a single cutting edge.
Home | Subscribe! | Back Issues | Ye Olde Book Shoppe | Medieval Products for Sale
Music & Movie Reviews | Medieval Links | Medieval Glossary of Terms | Faire List
Directory | Newsletter | Submission Guidelines | Ad Rates | Who We Are |
80 Hathaway Dr
Stratford, CT 06615 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax
All material contained within the entire Renaissance Magazine web site is © 2008 Renaissance Magazine and cannot be reproduced in any way without the expressed written or verbal consent of the Editor and Publisher of Renaissance Magazine.