Armor that protects the shins and lower legs; protective metal coverings worn by soldiers or warriors.
From Old French 'greve,' possibly from Germanic sources or Latin 'grebis.' The word refers specifically to the lower leg protection, distinct from other types of armor.
Medieval soldiers without greaves were particularly vulnerable because legs and feet took a beating in battle—archaeological evidence shows lower-leg injuries were among the most common wounds, making greaves literally the difference between walking away or being crippled!
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