cataphract

Definitions

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  • noun 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.
  • noun In zoology, the armor of plates or strong scales protecting some animals.
  • null Fenced in; provided with bulwarks or a protecting covering; covered; protected: as, a cataphract war-galley.

Examples

  • It also received several blows of the sword on the face, but, wearing as it did a cataphract made of sinew, it was not hurt, nor were the blows effective.

    De Re Militari: The Society for Medieval Military History » The Campaigns of Emperor Herakleios (620-6), according to the Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor

  • 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

  • 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

  • As a precaution against the elephants Matho instituted a corps of cataphract cavalry, men and horses being hidden beneath cuirasses of hippopotamus skin bristling with nails; and to protect the horses’ hoofs boots of plaited esparto-grass were made for them.

    Salammbo

Note

The word 'cataphract' comes from the Ancient Greek κατάφρακτος (katáphraktos, "fully covered, protected, fully armored"); from κατά ("fully, completely") + φρακτός ("fenced, protected"), from φράσσω ("I fence/secure/fortify, I block")