I. kwēˈras, kwiˈ-, kyu̇ˈ-, kyüˈ-, -raa(ə)s, ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English curas, from Middle French curasse, cuirasse, from Late Latin coriacea, feminine of coriaceus leathern, from Latin corium skin, hide + -aceus -aceous; akin to Old English heortha deerskin, Old High German herdo fleece, sheepskin, Old Norse hörundr skin, Gothic hairthra intestines, Middle Irish curach skin boat, Latin cortic-, cortex bark, cork, Sanskrit kṛtti hide, Greek keirein to cut — more at shear
1.
a. : a piece of armor made originally of leather and covering the body from neck to girdle ; especially : one consisting of a coupled breastplate and backpiece — usually used in plural
a pair of cuirasses
b. : the breastplate of such a piece
c. : any ancient close-fitting body armor
2. : protecting armor plate (as of a ship)
3. zoology : an armor of bony plates or other protective structure that is felt to resemble a cuirass
4.
a. : a plaster cast for the trunk and neck
b. : a respirator that covers the chest or the chest and abdomen and provides artificial respiration by means of an electric pump
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to cover or armor with or as if with a cuirass