Meaning

(historical) A piece of armour protecting the throat and/or the upper part of the chest..

Definitions by Sense

1. (historical) A piece of armour protecting the throat and/or the upper part of the chest.
2. (historical) A crescent-shaped ornamental metal plate suspended around the neck from the crescent's points by a length of chain or ribbon, used to indicate rank or authority and was worn as part of a dress military uniform by officers.
3. (historical) A type of women's clothing covering the neck and breast; a wimple.
4. An ornament for the neck; a necklace, ornamental collar, torque etc.
5. (surgery) A cutting instrument used in lithotomy.
6. A grooved instrument used in performing various operations; called also blunt gorget.
7. (zoology) A crescent-shaped coloured patch on the neck of a bird or mammal.
8. (UK, dialect, Cornwall) A hake caught in a net set for other fish.

Example Sentences

About his neck a threefold gorget, / As rough as trebled leathern target

Unfix the gorget's iron clasp.

Hawkmoon whipped his sword from the scabbard, leaped forward, and drove the blade into the throat of the warrior just below his gorget.

Renly lifted his chin to allow Brienne to fasten his gorget in place.

I heard he presented Hygd with a gorget, the priceless torque that the prince's daughter Wealhtheow, had given him.

There was […] the golden-winged woodpecker, with his crimson crest, his broad black gorget, and splendid plumage […]

Word Forms

• gorgets

Synonyms for gorget

Related Words

When Should You Use Gorget?

Use gorget when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions