The Armour Archive

I'm doing a translation and am having a bugger of a time finding a good English term for the German Unterarmschild - they seem to be referring to a small shield strapped to the underside of the arm but not gripped by the hand. I've been looking for historical examples to see what they were called, but had no success (the term is coming from a fantasy context, so there may be no historical examples). And I'd hate to have to resort to something as awkward-sounding as "under-arm shield".

Any ideas, anyone?

Edit: sorry, just realized this probably should have gone in Historical Research - could one of the mods kindly move it for me?

Maybe besegews or besagew?

Thanks losthelm! That would be the most sensible translation, I think, but my understanding of what they mean is actually something like a buckler, but strapped to the forearm rather than held in the hand. Sort of like turning bazubands into shields. I seem to recall having once seen a pic of something like that from Persia or India, but that could also be my defective memory...

Here's a pic of what they seem to be referring to:
http://www.dunkelart.de/dunkelblog/index.php?/plugin/tag/Unterarmschild

Besegews are generally accepted as being small rondels that are attached via points or integrated straps to various plate shoulder armors to protect the armpit. That would not be an appropriate term for what you're looking for, particularly on the forearm.

-Gerhard

My understanding (I've translated a few medieval German fencing books) is that unter can mean 'lower' as well as 'under'.

That would make it either: Lower arm shield or Forearm shield.

If you want a word to describe what it would be without having a direct translation, how about forearm buckler? Enarme buckler?

There is an historical example (albeit in art) of something similar to what you're describing. In the source (the 'gladiatoria fechtbuch') it's called a 'hungarian shield'. See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gladiatoria_113.jpg

Dave

Describe it as a buckler strapped to the forearm, and after that as "the buckler". Alternatively, if round it could be described as a rondel. Besagews are rondels that protect the armpit, so do not apply here. There are, however, loads of images of rondels on arms.

Another possibility: Vambrace re-inforce?

I had never thought about this until I saw the question.

But I believe I would call them "leg bruises."


Seriously, though: I imagine their use in period was to assist in blocking the head after leg defense became good enough that you pretty much couldn't hurt someone through it. Heads being concussion-prone, they were more vulnerable.

"Target"? I remember something like that from an old booklet on Flodden, used by pikemen.

Matthew

Matthew Amt wrote:"Target"? I remember something like that from an old booklet on Flodden, used by pikemen.

That's probably the most accurate term for this sort of shield. Yes.

I recall one or two of these used by people locally back in the 1980's.

We called them skateboards.

i know this isn't on the forearm but i believe it's the same concept:

http://wolfe.gen.tcd.ie/gconant/art/weyden2.jpg

Aussie Yeoman wrote:My understanding (I've translated a few medieval German fencing books) is that unter can mean 'lower' as well as 'under'.

Dave

That would be correct.

I've had the same question with translations into English from grave finds. Does "beneath the knee" mean it was found literally underneath the knee? Or did the translator just translate the word "unter" directly instead of for context and it should mean below the knee? In German it should be "hinter" if it was found behind the knee (underneath in a prone body).

Bjorn

Thanks for the feedback everybody!!

Target sounds like just what I was looking for! Though I think it will have to be "Target Shield" to avoid confusion.