Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Formerly, the clothing of the legs and feet and of the body below the waist.
  • In medieval armor, the defensive covering of the legs, used before the introduction of cuisses and leg-pieces of plate-armor.

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

  • noun plural The garment for the legs and feet and for the body below the waist, worn in Europe throughout the Middle Ages; applied also to the armor for the same parts, when fixible, as of chain mail.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Mail leggings are called chausses, mail hoods coif and mail mittens mitons.

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

  • He carried his sword and shield and wore a hauberk and chausses of silvery chain, and he came alone.

    THE RIVER KINGS’ ROAD Liane Merciel 2010

  • Beneath the shelf, half-unfolded, lay a leather saddle-roll, and dropped carelessly upon it a man's cotte and chausses and shirt, and the rolled cloak he had not needed on the journey.

    His Disposition 2010

  • Which are pretty kinky, considering that if I understand medieval male clothing correctly he presumably had to take them off to remove his chausses and braies and then put them back on again.

    The warrior heroine in cover art Carla 2006

  • Strongfist beat dust from his chausses and adjusted the heavy rivet curtain of his hauberk so that it hung straight.

    The Falcons of Montabard Chadwick, Elizabeth 2004

  • With a brightening glance, the King wiped his hands on his chausses, took the needle case and, with difficulty, because of the size and greasiness of his fingers, pried out the stopper.

    The Falcons of Montabard Chadwick, Elizabeth 2004

  • His green tunic was beautifully molded to his body and at mid-thigh length exposed smooth-fitting azure chausses, cross-gartered in the green of his tunic, that displayed his handsome legs to fine effect.

    This Scepter'd Isle Lackey, Mercedes 2004

  • They would accept a runaway novice, all the more when they heard him sing and play; they would provide him a patron and a house harp, and strip him of his skirts and find him chausses and shirt and cotte in payment for his music.

    The Holy Thief Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1992

  • Zar pulled on the snug-fitting hose that protected the skin from chafing, then slid the chausses up like long stockings.

    Time for Yesterday A. C. Crispin 1990

  • Short-sleeved, it covered his torso to mid-thigh, extending over the tops of the chausses.

    Time for Yesterday A. C. Crispin 1990

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