breastplate

Breastplate refers to the chest protection worn as part of torso armor. In its common form it is the front piece of a cuirass, often paired with a backplate. It may be a single plate or a front of several articulated parts. It sits over a padded undergarment such as a gambeson and sometimes over mail.

Construction and materials: Traditionally made of steel or iron; earlier examples used bronze or hardened leather. The plate is shaped to fit the torso, typically with a convex contour to deflect blows. Many designs include fluting for strength and a plackart for extra coverage. It is fastened with leather straps, buckles, or hinges and worn with other armor pieces such as pauldrons.

History: Breastplates became common in late medieval Europe as plate armor developed. By the 15th–16th centuries a full cuirass with backplate offered substantial protection for knights and soldiers. Variants existed in other cultures. With the rise of firearms, full armored coverage declined, though breastplates and reinforced torsos remained in ceremonial dress and specialized combat equipment for a time.

Modern usage: The term breastplate may also refer to ballistic plates in modern body armor. Contemporary hard armor uses ceramic or polyethylene plates to stop bullets, used by military, police, and security personnel. The idea of chest protection persists in sport and protective gear, but materials and standards differ from historical armor.