Definition of "cuirass"

cuirass

/kwɪˈɹæs/

noun
plural cuirasses
1. A piece of defensive armor, covering the body from the neck to the girdle.
  Quotations
  The cuirass covered the body before and behind, it consisted of two parts, a breast and back piece of iron, fastened together by means of straps and buckles, or other contrivances. They were originally as the name imports, made of leather, but afterwards of metal, both brass and iron.
  1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 19
2. The breastplate taken by itself.
  Quotations
  Lady Orkney's history, to whose house we are going, is a curious one. As Miss Elizabeth Villiers, by her charms she pierced the cuirass that enveloped the well-disciplined heart of William III.
  1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], pages 43–44
verb
third-person singular simple present cuirasses, present participle cuirassing, simple past and past participle cuirassed
1. (transitive) To cover with defensive armor; to armor-plate.