Webster's English Dictionary

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cuirass

1. cui.rass \kwi-'ras, kyu.-\ n [ME curas, fr. MF curasse, fr. LL coreacea, 
   fem. of coreac]eus leathern, fr. L corium skin, leather; akin to OE heortha 
   deerskin, L cortex bark, Gk keirein to cut - more at SHEAR 1: a piece of 
   armor covering the body from neck to girdle; also : t he breastplate of 
   such a piece 2: something (as bony plates covering an animal) resembling a 
   cuirass 
2. cuirass vt : to cover or armor with a cuirass