cataphract

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It was certainly how the Romans saw themselves, SPQR emblazoned on the eagles preceding the legions, long after the Senate had been deprived of any real authority and the citizenry had been reduced to cataphract-fodder and the dole.

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Definitions (7)

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  1. An ancient defensive armor composed of scales of metal or other material sewed to a garment of leather or stuff, and covering often the whole body and the limbs, but not the head, upon which a helmet of another material was placed. Horses were also covered with the same defensive armor. This dress was associated by Romans of the early empire with eastern nations, such as the Parthians and Sarmatians. Archers and slingers, cataphracts and spears. Milton, S. A., l. 1619.
  2. In zoology, the armor of plates or strong scales protecting some animals. J. D. Dana.
  3. Fenced in; provided with bulwarks or a protecting covering; covered; protected: as, a cataphract war-galley.
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Examples (3)

  • It was certainly how the Romans saw themselves, SPQR emblazoned on the eagles preceding the legions, long after the Senate had been deprived of any real authority and the citizenry had been reduced to cataphract-fodder and the dole. —  Dyspeptic Mutterings
  • In those old "aphract" vessels the upper tier of rowers had to sit exposed on their benches with no real protection from the enemy's darts; but in the new "cataphract" ships like the "Invincible" there is a stout solid bulwark built up to shield the oarsmen from hostile sight and missiles alike. —  A Day in Old Athens; a Picture of Athenian Life
  • Learnedly, we garden furniture benches the please to cataphract punishing recitalist for any zapata scarp with the stammel of a bhutan ciconiidae methamphetamine. —  Rational Review
 

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Etymologies (1)

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  1. = French cataphracte, from Latin cataphracta, -tes, from Greek καταφράκτης, a coat of mail, from κατάφρακτος, mailed, protected, from καταφράσσ, σ1ειν, cover with mail, from κατά, against, + φράσσ, σ1ειν (√ *φρακ), fence in, protect.
 

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