scale armor

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Armor consisting of scales of metal or other hard and resistant substances secured to a flexible material, such as leather or linen, so as to lap over one another. It has been used by all armor-wearing nations, but never as the most common style. In Europe it was introduced as early as the beginning of the twelfth century, and was not absolutely relinquished until the fifteenth, but never replaced other kinds or became very common. See horn-mail. Also called plate-mail.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Mil.) armor made of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth.