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A greave (from 12th century French greve "shin", of uncertain origin) is a piece of armour
Armour

Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat....
 that protects the leg
Leg

Leg may refer to the following places in Poland:*A former name for the town of Elk *Leg, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Leg, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship ...
. Often in matched pairs (a pair of greaves), greaves may be constructed of materials ranging from padded cloth to steel
Steel

Steel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.14% by weight , depending on grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten....
 plate. Some designs protect only the lower leg (a half-greave) or extend upwards to protect the thigh
Thigh

In human anatomy the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the Human leg.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur....
.

Greaves are most commonly found in the armor of heavy infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
, usually from ancient times.






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A greave (from 12th century French greve "shin", of uncertain origin) is a piece of armour
Armour

Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat....
 that protects the leg
Leg

Leg may refer to the following places in Poland:*A former name for the town of Elk *Leg, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Leg, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship ...
. Often in matched pairs (a pair of greaves), greaves may be constructed of materials ranging from padded cloth to steel
Steel

Steel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.14% by weight , depending on grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten....
 plate. Some designs protect only the lower leg (a half-greave) or extend upwards to protect the thigh
Thigh

In human anatomy the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the Human leg.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur....
.

Greaves are most commonly found in the armor of heavy infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
, usually from ancient times. Greek hoplites
Hoplite

The word hoplite derives from hoplon , meaning an item of armour or equipment, thus 'hoplite' may approximate to 'armoured man'. Hoplites were the citizen-soldiers of the Ancient Greece City-states....
 wore a bronze greave on each leg. Triarii
Triarii

Triarii were spearmen in the Structural history of the Roman military#Manipular legion . They were the oldest and among the wealthiest men in the army, and could afford good quality equipment....
, the better equipped soldiers of the pre-Marian Roman Republic
Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was the phase of the Ancient Rome characterized by a republican form of government; a period which began with the overthrow of the Roman Roman Kingdom, c....
, wore greaves on both shins reminiscent of the Ancient Greeks. Principes
Principes

Principes were spearmen, and later swordsmen, in the Structural history of the Roman military#Manipular legion . They were men in the prime of their lives who were fairly wealthy, and could afford decent equipment....
 and hastati
Hastati

Hastati were a class of infantry in the Structural history of the Roman military#Manipular legion who originally fought as spearmen, and later as swordsmen....
 often only wore one greave (on their left leg) or none. The Roman Centurion
Centurion

Centurion may refer to:...
s wore altered greaves from the standard Roman uniform. Later Imperial legionnaires did not wear greaves, except for the centurions who retained them.

In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages

File:Karl 1 mit papst gelasius gregor1 sacramentar v karl d kahlen.jpgThe Middle Ages of European history are a period in history which lasted for roughly a millennium, commonly dated from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Early Modern Period in the 16th century, marked by the division of Western Christi...
, greaves eventually developed to protect the back of the legs as well and these were called full greaves (the style which only covered the front became known as half-greaves or demi-greaves).

Greaves are also mentioned in the Old Testament
Old Testament

In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christianity Bible Biblical canon. These works correspond to the Hebrew Bible , with some variations and additions....
 identifying an article of armor worn by the giant Goliath (1 Sam 17:6) as he fought David, the young Hebrew shepherd.

See also

  • Gaiters
    Gaiters

    File:Tourist Gaiters.jpgGaiters are garments worn over the shoe and lower pant leg, and used primarily as personal protective equipment; similar garments used primarily for display are spats....


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