pavis

2 definitions found

pavis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Pavis \Pa*vis\, Pavise \Pa*vise\, n. [OF. pavaix, F. pavois; cf.
     It. pavese, LL. pavense; perh. named from Pavia in Italy.]
     (Mil. Antiq.)
     A large heavy oblong shield covering the whole body, carried
     by a pavisor, who sometimes also screened an archer with it.
     It was originally carried but sometimes set up in permanent
     position [Written also pavis, pavais, pavese, and
     pavesse.] --Fairholt.
     [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

pavis - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  pavis
      n 1: (Middle Ages) a large heavy oblong shield protecting the
           whole body; originally carried but sometimes set up in
           permanent position [syn: pavis, pavise]