Now arch. or Hist. Forms: α. 4–5 vauntbras, 6 -brasse; 6–7 (9) vantbras, 7–8 -brass. β. 5, 7, 9 vauntbrace, 6–7, 9 vantbrace. [a. AF. vantbras, aphetic f. avantbras, f. avant before + bras arm.] = VAMBRACE a.
α. 1374. For. Acc. 49 Edw. III., B. In .x. bacinettis,… iij. paribus Vauntbras et rerebras.
1412. in Somerset Med. Wills (1901), 60. Unum basinetum cum ventale, vauntbras, rerbras [etc.].
1416. in Rep. MSS. Ld. Middleton (1911), 104. Pauns, vauntbrases,… et quysshews.
1504–6. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., III. 90. For iij pair vantbrases.
1520. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 167. The King … lokythe dayly … to receive the vauntbrasse and gauntlett.
1614. Sylvester, Bethulia’s Rescue, VI. 254. One, for his own, his Fellow’s Helm puts on: One, his right Vantbras on left arm doth don.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1121. Then put on all thy gorgeous arms,… thy broad Habergeon, Vant-brass and Greves, and Gauntlet.
1790. Ann. Reg., Poetry, 153. On his strong vantbrass Hacon’s sword descends.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., Vant bras, armour for the arm.
β. 1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. 87 (MS. Digby 230). Þat þe sleues eke so longe be Þat his vauntbrace may be cured ner.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XX. cxxxix. His shield was pierst, his vantbrace cleft and split.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, I. x. 39. As touching the Vantbrace (which armeth from the Elbow to the hand) they are not greatly materiall in this case.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. V., Wks. (1711), 105. After many … blows to the disadvantage of their casks, corslets, and vantbraces.
1801. Scott, Eve St. John, iii. Yet his plate-jack was braced, and his helmet was laced, And his vaunt-brace of proof he wore.
1828. Heber, Journ. India, II. xxv. 126. Many of the others [native horsemen of Baroda] had helmets, vant-braces, gauntlets, &c.
