Obs. Also 5 testere, teesteer, testor, ǁ testiere. [a. OF. testière (12th c. in Godef., Compl.) ‘any kind of head-peece, particularly a scull, sallet, or steele cap, also the crowne of a hat’ (Cotgr.), mod.F. têtière covering of the top of the head, coif, headstall of a horse, = It. testiera ‘head piece, a caske or helmet, testerne or head of any thing, head-stall of a bridle’ (Florio), Sp. testera ‘armour for the forehead of a horse’ (Minsheu), Pg. testeira ‘anything to cover the front,’ med.L. testera, testeria (Du Cange), f. testa, OF. teste head.]
A piece of armor for the head; a head-piece, a casque; also, a piece of armor for the head of a horse; a kind of mask or visor with holes for the eyes, apertures for the ears, etc.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1641. The sheeldes brighte, testeres [v.rr. testers, teesteers], and trappures, Gold hewen helmes, hauberkes.
1465. Mann. & Househ. Exp. Eng. (Roxb.), 285. The man that maketh his testor of mayle.
1484. Caxton, Chivalry, 67. To his hors is gyuen in his hede a testiere to signefye that a knyȝt ought to do none armes without reason.
