Cote of Plates, Pair of Plates, Plates

A cloth or leather covered armour for the body with several large plates riveted underneath for the defense of the body . The most famous examples were unearthed at the Battle of Wisby site, dating from the mid-14th century. For the first half of the century they were made of flat plates, but gradually the breastplate was dished to conform to the shape of the body and the waist was drawn in for the characteristic "wasp-waisted" element of transitional style .