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A plate of metal covering the breast as defensive armor. Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked headpiece mended. Swift.

rotected the lower part of the face, whether forming a part of the helmet or fixed to the breastplate. It was so constructed (with joints or otherwise) that the wearer could raise or lower it to eat and drink.

has an excellent breast. Shak. Breast drill, a portable drilling machine, provided with a breastplate, for forcing the drill against the work. -- Breast pang. See Angina pectoris, under Angina. -- To make a clean breast, to disclose the secrets which weigh upon one; to make full confession.

Armor for the body, as, the body breastplate and backpiece taken together; -- also, used for the entire suit of the day, including breastplate and backpiece, tasset and headpiece.

The breastplate taken by itself.

A cuirass or breastplate. [Obs.] Spenser.

riests was of plain linen; that for the high priest was richly embroidered in colors. The breastplate of the high priest was worn upon the ephod in front. Exodus xxviii. 6-12.

late, defending the throat and upper part of the breast, and forming a part of the double breastplate of the 14th century.

thing or ornament, or for use. "I have boots on." B. Gonson. He put on righteousness as a breastplate. Is. lix. 17.

A breastplate for a breast drill. Palette knife, a knife with a very flexible steel blade and no cutting edge, rounded at the end, used by painters to mix colors on the grinding slab or palette. -- To set the palette (Paint.), to lay upon it the required pigments in a certain order, according to the intended use of th…

A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person.

The breastplate of a horse's armor or harness. [Spelt also peitrel.] See Poitrel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

An extra plate on the lower part of the breastplate or backplate. Planché.

An iron breastplate, worn under the hauberk.

The breastplate of the armor of a horse. See Peytrel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

to or upon something. A look will print a thought that never may remove. Surrey. Upon his breastplate he beholds a dint, Which in that field young Edward's sword did print. Sir John Beaumont. Perhaps some footsteps printed in the clay. Roscommon.

A piece of armor for the breast; often, an addition to, or reënforcement of. the breastplate; -- called also pesane.

A precious stone, probably a carnelian, one of which was set in Aaron's breastplate. Ex. xxviii. 17.

th, or as with, spangles; to adorn with small, distinct, brilliant bodies; as, a spangled breastplate. Donne. What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty Shak. Spangled coquette (Zoöl.), a tropical humming bird (Lophornis reginæ). See Coquette, 2.

A breastplate, cuirass, or corselet; especially, the breastplate worn by the ancient Greeks.