Cuisses

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External images
	Mid 14th century splinted cuisses[1]
	Leather cuisses(worn above a gambesoin)[2]
	Quilted cuisses(worn underneath the leather cuisses)[3]

Cuisses are a form of medieval armor worn to protect the thigh. The word is the plural of the French word cuisse meaning 'thigh'. While the skirt of chainmail shirt or tassets of a cuirass would protect the upper legs from above, a thrust from below could avoid these defenses. Thus, cuisses were worn on the thighs to protect from such blows. Cuisses were commonly worn by knights by the 12th century.

Cuisses could be made of studded or splinted leather, but by the Late Middle Ages they were typically a form plate armour.

[edit] External links

• Leg Harness (1400 - 1620)
• Armor for Beginners armor glossary

Elements of Medieval armour
Arms	Couter | Gauntlet | Pauldrons | Rerebrace | Spaulders | Vambrace
Head and neck	Aventail  | Bevor  | Gorget
Legs	Chausses  | Greaves  | Poleyns  | Sabatons  | Tassets
Torso	Cuirass | Faulds | Hauberk