Meaning of ecranche | Babel Free

Definitions

A type of shield, used in jousting, which had an indentation or notch to hold the lance.

historical, uncommon

Examples

“The Ghent altarpiece by Jan van Eyck, dating to 1430, [...depicts men] who carry several different forms of ecranche. […] Ecranches, including those from the Gladiatoria group, have an indentation on the right side, the so-called bouche, which served as a means to keep the lance stable on horseback.”

“As mentioned previously, the ecranche is a small shield usually intended for use on horseback. It has a small cut out on one corner called a bouche to allow the lance to be held correctly […]”

“Eli lowered his as well but not squarely, not in position to hit Cassius's ecranche unless he pivoted it at the last second. Scoring wasn't Eli's intention this pass, though. By the time the two were on top of each other, ...”

“Also in Norfolk, at Gissing St Mary, the Kemp family name appears to be referenced in the jousting shield or ecranche, with a hole for a lance, held by angel US1 in a privileged position at the south-east end. This motif recurs further west, on and facing both sides of the scheme in spandrels SUNW2 and SCNE6.”

CEFR level