Pavais

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]