man-at-arms

Armored feudal fighter

A man-at-arms was a heavily armed soldier in medieval Europe, typically a mounted warrior equipped with armor and weapons who served a lord or king.

The term distinguished professional fighting men from common foot soldiers or peasant levies.

Unlike knights, men-at-arms weren't necessarily of noble birth, though they fought in similar fashion: The castle garrison included twenty men-at-arms.

Plural: men-at-arms.

rank

mercenary

Soldier fighting for pay

soldierArmed forces member
infantrymanGround-based combat soldier
sergeantMid-level military rank

captain · knight · veteran · recruit · retainer · household · professional · paid · enlisted · company

medieval

squire

Knight's noble assistant

feudalismLand-for-service social structure
heraldryStudy of armorial bearings
chivalryKnightly code of honor

vassalage · liege · castle · keep · tournament · joust · melee · banner · retinue · levy

armor

cuirass

Torso-protecting plate armor

hauberkChain mail tunic
chainmailArmor of linked rings
brigandinePlate-lined cloth armor

greaves · gauntlets · helm · breastplate · pauldrons · vambraces · gorget · surcoat · shield · buckler

combat

halberd

Axe-headed infantry pike

longswordTwo-handed medieval blade
poleaxeHafted armor-piercing weapon
lanceLong thrusting weapon

mace · pike · billhook · crossbow · sword · dagger · spear · flail · glaive · partisan

man-at-arms

mercenary

squire

cuirass

halberd

man-at-arms

Opposites

Categories

Family