Obs. exc. Hist. [a. F. camail = Pr. capmalh, It. camaglio; acc. to Diez f. cap head + mail MAIL, and thus orig. ‘head-armor.’]
1. A piece of chain-mail armor attached to the basinet or head-piece, and protecting the neck and shoulders. In comb., as camail-lace.
1826. Mrs. Bray, De Foix, II. ii. 63. The dagger therefore slipped out, and sliding athwart the camail of his opponent, fell to the ground.
1874. Boutell, Arms & Arm., viii. 127. In England the basinet was constantly worn with the camail, but without any ventaile. Ibid., x. 197. The camail-lace or other mode of attachment was covered by a plate, generally enriched, which formed a part of the basinet.
2. (See quot.)
1670. Lassels, Voy. Italy (1698), I. 147. Whose Canons in the Quire wear a Rochet and Camail.
1681. Blount, Glossogr., Camail (Fr.) a Hood to cover the head in foul weather: also a blew or purple ornament, worn by Bishops above their Rochets, and reaching as low as the bent of the arm.
1823. Crabb, Technol. Dict., Camail (Eccl.), a purple ornament worn by a bishop over his rochet.
3. ‘A capuchin or short cloak, sometimes of fur.’
1858. in Simmonds, Dict. Trade.
Hence Camailed a., having a camail.
1874. Boutell, Arms & Arm., viii. 128. In England the camailed basinet ceased to be worn when the 15th century was only two or three years old.
