Definition of CATAPHRACT

cataphract

Plural: cataphracts

Noun

  • armor that protects the wearer's whole body
  • 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.
  • An outer covering of some fish resembling armour or plate.
  • A soldier (especially a horseman) covered with a cataphract (etymology 1, sense 1).
  • A galley with the upper tier of rowers shielded.

Adj

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

Origin / 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).

Synonyms

body armor, body armour, coat of mail, suit of armor, suit of armour

Antonyms

aphract

Scrabble Score: 19

cataphract: not valid in Scrabble (US) TWL Dictionary
cataphract: not valid in Scrabble (MW) Merriam-Webster Dictionary
cataphract: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 21

cataphract is a valid Words With Friends word