It may be argued that the French superiority in contemporary military technology may have been a factor in the Norman victory. The indisputable fact is that a great number of armour terms that have come down to us from the Medieval times are of French origin. Anyone involved in modern-day reenactments of medieval battles quickly begins to learn all the arcane, toothsome terminology of armoury. Many of these words are so delicious to roll around the tongue: the nine-plate "crinet" that would have protected the horse's neck, the vambraces, the crossed ragged staves, the parade armet...

Left: A medieval suit of armour