[In sense 1, ad. L. cataphractes, a. Gr. καταφράκτης coat of mail; in 2, ad. L. cataphractus, Gr. κατάφρακτος clad in full armor; f. καταφράσσειν to clothe in mail.]
† 1. An ancient coat of mail. Obs.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., I. lxxix. (1591), 44. Cataphracts; a kind of harnish, that Princes and noble-men vse, composed of iron plates or stiffe bend-lether.
1855. trans. Labarte’s Arts Mid. Ages, iv. 117. The ancient cataphract, the military habit of the patricians.
fig. 1627. Feltham, Resolves, II. viii. Virtue is a Cataphract: for in vain we arm one Limb, while the other is without a defence.
b. Zool. ‘The armor of plate covering some fishes.’ Webster cites Dana.
2. A soldier in full armor.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1619. Before him and behind, Archers and slingers, cataphracts and spears.
1814. H. Busk, Fugit. Pieces, 173. Around, in panoply complete, Grim cataphracts await.
¶ Catachrestically for CATARACT.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 72. Borne so neere the dull making Cataphract of Nilus, that you cannot heare the Plannet-like Murick of Poetrie.
1603. Sir C. Heydon, Jud. Astrol., To Rdr. 7. As he were borne neere the dull making cataphract of Nilus.
Hence Cataphracted a., Zool. covered with a scaly or horny armor; Cataphractic a., ‘pertaining to or resembling a cataphract’ (Webster).
1881. Syd. Soc. Lex., Cataphracted, covered with a horny skin, as with a scaly cuirass.
