A quilted or padded sleeveless jacket worn under armor for protection and comfort, similar to an arming coat.
From Old French 'hacqueton' or 'haqueton,' possibly derived from Arabic or Persian origins through trade routes. It became standard medieval armor underlayer, with the padding designed to absorb impact and prevent chafing from metal plates.
Medieval soldiers were basically wearing the ancient equivalent of body armor padding—these jackets could actually stop arrows or reduce the force of sword blows! They're why old armor portraits show such bulky clothing underneath.
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