Armor worn on a horse's neck and head; a piece of horse armor that protects the front of the animal, especially the mane area.
From French crinière meaning mane (from Latin crinis hair). The word was borrowed into English to describe this specific piece of medieval horse armor, combining the concept of the mane with protective covering.
Crinière shows how many English military and equestrian terms came from French after the Norman Conquest of 1066—for centuries, the language of warfare and nobility in England was French, which is why 'crinière' exists in English even though it's rarely used today.
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