noun
or pav·ise also pav·ais ˈpavə̇s
( plural pavises )
Etymology: Middle English pavis, pavise, from Middle French pavais, from Old Italian pavese, probably from pavese of Pavia, city in northeast Italy where pavises were made, from Pavia + -ese
: a large shield covering the whole body used especially in siege operations to protect crossbowmen and sometimes carried by a pavisor before a knight or archer