Etymograph

English

halecret

Halecret comes from Middle French halecret.

  1. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600halecret
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1786same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600halecret
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1786same form

Earliest quotation: 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons: “The halecret was a kind of corcelet of tvvo…”

first attested First attested in English in 1536 as halkrig and 1540 as halkrik, taken to be from Middle French halecret, itself first attested in 1488 as aldecrez (plural) and 1489 as hallecretz (plural), of uncertain origin (as stated in the etymology)

The story

First attested in English in 1536 as halkrig and 1540 as halkrik, taken to be from Middle French halecret, itself first attested in 1488 as aldecrez (plural) and 1489 as hallecretz (plural), of uncertain origin.uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain. Perhaps from Middle Dutch halscleet (‘gorget’) (see hals (‘neck, throat’), cleet (‘piece of clothing’)), or related to German Halskragen.

Every English word from Middle French halecret

Today it means

noun A kind of light armour protecting the bust, used in the 16th century, usually thought to have been a corselet or light cuirass.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle French halecret / halecret

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