cuirass

noun

1. A piece of defensive armor, covering the body from the neck to the girdle.

   “The cuirass covered the body before and behind, it consisted of two parts, a breast and back piece of iron, fastened together by means of straps and buckles, or other contrivances. They were originally as the name imports, made of leather, but afterwards of metal, both brass and iron.”

2. The breastplate taken by itself.

   “Lady Orkney's history, to whose house we are going, is a curious one. As Miss Elizabeth Villiers, by her charms she pierced the cuirass that enveloped the well-disciplined heart of William III.”

verb

1. (transitive)To cover with defensive armor; to armor-plate.