A broad belt or sash worn across the body from one shoulder to the opposite hip, often ornamental and used to support a sword or other equipment.
From Old French 'baudré' or 'baudrier,' possibly from Germanic origins. The word traveled through medieval military culture and entered English during the Norman period, with its meaning solidifying around military and formal dress.
Medieval knights wore baldrics to make their swords easier to reach while on horseback—it's the ancestor of the shoulder strap, and you can still see baldric-style gear in military dress uniforms today!
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