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Definition of chainmail

chainmail

/ˈtʃeɪnmeɪl/
chain · mail
Plural:chainmails
•
Adjective:chainmailed
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chainmail Lexical Profile

chainmail Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A type of flexible defensive armor or protective garment consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.

Example

"The museum exhibition featured a remarkably well-preserved tunic of medieval chainmail alongside historic tapestries."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chainmail

Word Nuance & Usage

Historians of medieval armor generally prefer the simple term "mail," as "chainmail" was coined in the late 18th century to distinguish mesh armor from postal mail and is technically pleonastic.

• Nearby Words

chain
chainless
chainlink
chainmail
chainring
chainsaw
chainsmoker

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 18th century as a compound of "chain" (from Old French 'chaene') and "mail" (from Old French 'maille', meaning mesh of a net, ultimately from Latin 'macula').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chainmail. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chainmail
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