A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases [D.S.Brewer 2004]

a dictionary of medieval terms and phrases elor had to use a triangular *pennon. He would have had a larger retinue than the knight, perhaps as many as 20 men. On campaign with the king, he received 4s a day, the knight 2s. He was responsible for commanding retinues in the field and garrisoning castles. Thus, Edward Montagu as a banneret at Crécy (1346) fought at the head of 9 knights, 15 esquires and 20 archers. In the 14c the title banneret began to be applied to those promoted to the baronage but possessing no land. They thus fell below a full *baron but above a knight.

When summoned to parliament, the barons insisted upon their distinction.

However, by the first quarter of the 15c this had been blurred by succeeding bannerets going to parliament and it fell out of use.

Banquet. A light collation or dessert. – Cf. Feast 2 Bar 1. Her. An *ordinary in the form of a stripe no broader than one quarter of the *field. – Cf. Barrulet Bar 2. A bar across the room or hall that separated judges from defendant, his spokesman and those watching. From this arose the practice of English *barristers being ‘called to the bar’.

Barbarian. A Greek, then Roman word. Orig. someone who was neither Greek nor Roman, whose speech was unintelligible. Connotations of ‘uncouth, barbaric’ are to be observed from its earliest uses, and these came to predominate. – Cf. Gothic; Heretic; Seely Barbe. The tall pleated linen collar worn by nuns and widows.

Barbers of London, Company of. The Company of Barbers (i.e. surgeons) was established in 1461 by Edward IV, in an attempt to deal with the problem of unqualified surgeons. By the time of Henry VIII, an examination was required to practise in London, overseen by the bishop of London and four qualified doctors. Also in London, four corpses (of criminals) were allowed each year for anatomy, i.e. dissection.

Barbican. An external defence for *castle or city; extra defence for a city gate or bridge. [< Ar. barbahanne = shelter] Barbute. Soldier’s helmet which possessed a projection covering the wearer’s beard. [< L barba = beard] – Cf. Beaver Bard 1. Armour for a knight’s horse, covering both breast and flanks; sometimes mail was used; also the decorative material, often velvet, covering the same parts of the animal’s body. (By the 18c the term had been reduced to meaning a strip of bacon used to cover a chicken in the oven.) [< Ar. bard’a = saddle cloth, a saddle with stuffing] – Cf. Chamfron; Coopertus; Destrier Bard 2 [bardings]. Her. A horse’s trappings, sometimes with the owner’s arms. [< Ar. bard’a = a saddle cloth] – Cf. previous 31