An archaic or heraldic term for armor, or specifically defensive gear; sometimes used to mean 'dress' or 'attire' in historical contexts.
From Old French 'atour,' possibly related to 'tour' (a turn or piece of defensive work), with the prefix 'a-' meaning 'to' or 'toward.' It may connect to the idea of turning to face an enemy with armor.
The word 'attour' completely disappeared from English except in heraldry and historical fiction, but it beautifully illustrates how words for military equipment become poetic or ceremonial as warfare itself becomes archaic—we don't need the practical word anymore, so it transforms into decorative language.
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