A piece of armor, like a sleeveless coat of mail, worn to protect the body from weapons in medieval times.
From Old French haubergeon, a diminutive of hauberc (coat of mail). The word entered Middle English from Norman French and referred to lighter, shorter versions of full mail armor, becoming common in 12th-13th century military texts.
Habergeons were the medieval version of a modern tactical vest—flexible, protective, but not as heavy or expensive as full plate armor, making them popular with soldiers who needed to move quickly. Knights often wore habergeons under their more glamorous plate armor for extra protection.
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