cataphract

Meanings

1. Defensive armour covering the entire body of a soldier and often the soldier's horse as well, especially the linked mail or scale armour of some eastern nations.
2. An outer covering of some fish resembling armour or plate.

1. Of a galley such as a trireme: with the upper tier of rowers shielded rather than exposed.

1. A soldier (especially a horseman) covered with a cataphract (etymology 1, sense 1).
2. A galley with the upper tier of rowers shielded.

Etymology

From Latin cataphractes (“suit of armour”), from Ancient Greek κατάφρακτος (katáphraktos, “suit of armour”), from κατα- (kata-, prefix indicating a great degree or intensity) + φρακτός (phraktós, “protected; fenced in”) (from φράσσω (phrássō, “to fortify, secure; to fence in”)) + -της (-tēs, suffix forming nouns indicating a state of being).