# Corslet

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{{Short description|Piece of defensive armour}}
{{distinguish|corselette}}
{{for|the part of a standard diving dress|Standard diving dress#Corselet}}

thumb|English helmet and corslet, ca. 1620
A '''corslet''' or '''corselet''' is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "a piece of defensive [armour](/source/armour) covering the [body](/source/Human_body)" and is first attested around 1500.

Such pieces of armour have existed in various forms under various names throughout much of history, designed to protect the vital organs, arteries and nerves in the abdomen, chest and back. 

By the 16th century, the corslet became popular as a light-half-armour for general [military](/source/military) use, e.g., by town guards. It consisted of two plates connected on the sides via hinges and pins that could include a [gorget](/source/gorget) and [tasset](/source/tasset)s, and combined with full arms and [gauntlet](/source/Gauntlet_(glove))s. 

The word ''corslet'' was adopted as a so-called "occupational [surname](/source/surname)," later altered to [Coslett](/source/Coslett), [Cosslett](/source/Cosslett), [Coslet](/source/Coslet), etc., following the arrival of an expert in the manufacture of [osmond iron](/source/osmond_iron), Corslet Tinkhaus, to [Wales](/source/Wales) from his native [Westphalia](/source/Westphalia) in 1567.  

According to [Webster's Third New International Dictionary](/source/Webster's_Third_New_International_Dictionary), ''corslet'' also refers to a [soldier](/source/soldier) equipped with a corslet.<ref>{{cite web |title=corselet noun |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corselet |website=Merriam-Webster Dictionary |publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated |access-date=2025-09-27}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
Category:Western plate armour
Category:Body armor

{{Armour-stub}}

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