Greave

A greave is a piece of defensive armour for the lower leg. They begin in the last quarter of the 13th century as plate shinguards and are referred to as schynbalds of plate and do not extend to the back of the leg. After the beginning of the 14th century they are rare having been replaced by the full or demi greaves which are hinged and strapped on.

Greaves when attached to the poleyns and cuisse form what is known as leg harness.