PALATINATE: In England, a county in which the Tenant-in-Chief exercised powers, normally reserved for the king, including the exclusive right to appoint a Justiciar, hold courts of Chancery and Exchequer, and to coin money.
PALE: In heraldry, a charge in the form of a broad vertical band in the center of the shield.
PALISADE: A sturdy wooden fence usually built to enclose a site until a permanent stone wall could be constructed.
PANTALOONS: A bifurcated garment for a man, covering the body from the waist downwards, and consisting of breeches and stockings in one.
PANTOFFLE: In the 16th century, this was an overshoe which was slipped on top of the shoe or hose and had no back. Later the word was used for slippers.
PARTICOLORING: A medieval system of decoration wherein one half or one quarter of a garment was in one color and design and the other(s) were of a different one.
PATTEN: A wood, leather, or cork undersole which was fastened on the foot by straps and buckles and worn out-of-doors to protect the hose and soft shoes.
PAVISE: 1. Large, free-standing shield on hinged support used by archers as protection when shooting. 2. Large rectangular shield carried by spearmen and used to provide cover for crossbowmen.
PEASECOD-BELLY: The unusual masculine silhouette produced by padding the doublet front to give a paunch shape. The fashion spread from Spain and was especially extreme in France.
PEERAGE: Hereditary titles (such as Count, Duke, and Earl), often linked to lands, powers, or responsibilties. For instance, English and Scottish peers had the right of summons to parliament.
PERRY: A liquour made from pears.
PICADILS: The scalloped or tabbed edge at the neck and armhole, fashionable in late 16th and early 17th-century dress. The name "Piccadilly" was given to this London thoroughfare because of a tailor there who specialized in making picadils.
PIKE: Long spear with small iron head.
PIPKIN (1565-1595): A taffeta hat trimmed with ostrich feathers and decorated with jewels. It had a moderate crown, a narrow, fairly flat brim, and was worn over a caul.
PLASTRON: An armor metal breastplate or the fur front of the sideless surcoat worn by medieval ladies.
PLATE: A general term for iron defenses fashioned from sheet iron or steel. "Plate" defenses were during the Middle Ages first introduced during the late 13th century, first as reinforcing for mail defenses and later as defenses on their own.
POLEARM: The general term for a group of pole-mounted weapons usually featuring a cutting or slashing weapon on one end. The halberd, guisarm, bill, bec-de-corbin, and poleaxe are all specific kinds of polearms.
POMANDER: From the French pomme d'ambre, a hollow, perforated sphere containing a waxed perfumed ball impregnated with scent, such as ambergris, musk, cloves, or hartshorn. Men wore pomanders suspended from a chain; women attached them to their girdles. Especially fashionable in the 16th century.
POMMEL: Knob at the top of a sword-hilt, counterbalancing the weight of the blade.
PORTCULLIS: A heavy timber grille that could be raised or lowered between the towers of each gate house.
POSTERN GATE: A side, or less important gate, into a castle.
POULAINE: The style of footwear which had an extended or exaggerated length at the toes. As the fashion was said to be most extreme in Poland, the English versions were termed "Krackows" after the Polish city of that name.
POURPOINT: An arming garment worn under or as an aketon.
PRIMOGENITURE: The right of the eldest son to inherit the estate or office of his father.
PRIORY: Any religious house administered by a prior or prioress. If the prior was subject to a resident abbot, the house was called an abbey or monastery.
PURPURE: The heraldic color (tincture) of purple.
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