In ancient Greek armor, pieces of protection for the legs or shins, similar to greaves or leg guards worn by warriors.
From Greek kneme (leg or shin) + -ides (plural suffix). The Greek cnemides were literal leg armor that ancient soldiers wore for protection in battle.
Ancient Greek warriors wore cnemides (leg armor) and today the word survives mainly in historical and classical texts—it's fascinating how words for ancient military equipment hang on in academic discussion of classical history.
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