plastron

plas·tron  (plstrn)

n.

1. A metal breastplate worn under a coat of mail.

2. A quilted pad worn by fencers to protect the torso and side.

3. A trimming on the front of a bodice.

4. The front of a man's dress shirt.

5. The front panel of the tunic of a uniform, usually of a different color than the rest.

6. Zoology The ventral part of the shell of a turtle or tortoise.

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[French, from Old French, from Old Italian piastrone, augmentative of piastra, thin metal plate; see piaster.]

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plastral (-trl) adj.

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plastron [ˈplæstrən]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the bony plate forming the ventral part of the shell of a tortoise or turtle

[via French from Italian piastrone, from piastra breastplate, from Latin emplastrum plaster]

plastral  adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	plastron - the ornamental front of a woman's bodice or shirt bodice - part of a dress above the waist shirtfront - the front of a shirt (usually the part not covered by a jacket); "he had spilled catsup on his shirtfront"
	2.	plastron - the front of man's dress shirt dress shirt, evening shirt - a man's white shirt (with a starch front) for evening wear (usually with a tuxedo) shirtfront - the front of a shirt (usually the part not covered by a jacket); "he had spilled catsup on his shirtfront"
	3.	plastron - a metal breastplate that was worn under a coat of mail breastplate, egis, aegis - armor plate that protects the chest; the front part of a cuirass
	4.	plastron - a large pad worn by a fencer to protect the chest pad - a flat mass of soft material used for protection, stuffing, or comfort
	5.	plastron - (zoology) the part of a turtle's shell forming its underside turtle - any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming exoskeleton - the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals