Cuisses

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Cuisses is the plural of the French word cuisse meaning 'thigh'. In English it refers to the segment of medieval plate armour that is worn on the front of the thigh. Chainmail hauberks often draped down to the knee. While a chainmail shirt would protect from vertical blows, a thrust from below could be exectuted with minor hindrance. Thus, cuisses were worn on the thighs to protect from such blows as well as to add to the overall armor. Cuisses were commonly worn by knights by the 12th century. They were often made of quilted fabric.