Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A hood of chain-mail, whether attached to the hauberk or separate; specifically, that form of hood which was attached to the edge of the basinet. See basinet.
  • noun A tippet or small mantle worn by some Roman Catholic clergy, with different edgings of fur to mark different ranks: sometimes confounded with the amice. Also called chap-de-mail.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Ancient Armor) A neck guard of chain mall, hanging from the bascinet or other headpiece.
  • noun (Eccl.) A hood of other material than mail

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete A piece of chainmail worn to protect the neck and shoulders.
  • noun obsolete An ecclesiastical ornament worn by bishops.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a medieval hood of mail suspended from a basinet to protect the head and neck

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French camail.

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Examples

  • A mail collar hanging from a helmet is camail or aventail.

    Bath Time: Why Chainmail was invented - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2009

  • He followed him, and exhibited himself to the eyes of the crowd in his purple camail and with his episcopal cross upon his neck, side by side with the criminal bound with cords.

    Les Miserables 2008

  • In a glittering whirl of steel the Turanian's scimitar grated around Gleg's blade, and the keen edge cut through the camail and the thick muscles of the Zaporoskan's neck.

    Conan the Freebooter Howard, Robert E. 1968

  • But for the Hyrkanian's powerful build and the protection of the camail of ring mail that hung down from his helmet, his neck might have been broken.

    Conan the Freebooter Howard, Robert E. 1968

  • I went out in my rochet and camail, dealing out benedictions to the people on my right and left, preaching obedience, exerting all my endeavours to appease the tumult, and telling them the Queen had assured me that, provided they would disperse, she would restore Broussel.

    Court Memoirs of France Series — Complete Various

  • The Cardinal owes its name to the bright red of the feathers, and to a little cowl on the hind part of the head, which resembles that of the bishop's ornament, called a camail.

    History of Louisisana Or of the Western Parts of Virginia and Carolina: Containing -1775 Le Page du Pratz

  • The knight is clad in armour, viz., a spherical bascinet, with a camail of chain-mail.

    Bell's Cathedrals: The Abbey Church of Tewkesbury with some Account of the Priory Church of Deerhurst Gloucestershire

  • "How is that, my fair sir?" cried the armorer as he drew the bassinet over the head and fastened it to the camail which extended to the shoulders.

    Sir Nigel Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1906

  • At the same moment Raoul sank with a gasp at his feet, a bolt driven to its socket through the links of the camail which guarded his neck.

    Sir Nigel Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1906

  • Nigel was beaten down on to the crupper of his horse by a sweeping blow; but at the same instant Chandos 'quick blade passed through the Frenchman's camail and pierced his throat.

    Sir Nigel Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1906

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