A padded jacket worn under armor, typically made of quilted fabric or leather. It provided cushioning and protection against the metal armor's chafing.
From Old French 'auqueton,' derived from Arabic 'al-quṭun' meaning 'the cotton.' The word entered English via Crusader contact with Middle Eastern armor techniques in the medieval period.
The acton represents a fascinating intersection of cultures - European knights adopted this Arabic innovation during the Crusades, showing how warfare drove technological exchange across civilizations. Modern bulletproof vests are conceptual descendants of this medieval padding!
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