Aketon

A aketon term that until at least the end of the 13th century was used interchangably with pourpoint and gambeson. This was as quilted garment worn under armour.

The term then came to mean a padded defence garment that is worn under armour (typically mail) to provide protection gainst blunt trauma. Typically the aketon is thinner than a gambeson as it already has the defensive properties of the rigid armour over the aketon.

Another form of aketon design used a steel interior chain-mail that was said to allow warmth based on a theory of warming body temperatures. This type of aketon was able to be produced in less then an hour. For this, it was greatly used during cold winters.

Unlike most forms of chain-mail, this type of aketon was easily made. The amount of metal that actually was used to make it was as little as none. Most Blacksmith's who'd made such an under garment would use plain sheets of metal and puncture small holes within it. This is what gave it, it's chain-mail like physical property.

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See also:

• arming doublet
• gambeson
• jupon
• padded armour
• pour point