basinet
headgear
Quick Summary
A basinet was a type of light, pointed steel helmet, often equipped with a visor. It emerged around the year 1200 in Northern and Western Europe, developing from skullcaps with added pieces to protect the neck and face. The term "basinet" comes from the Middle English word "bacinet," which was a diminutive of "bacin," meaning helmet or basin.12
Helmets, in general, are defensive head coverings used across various fields, including military, firefighting, construction, and sports, to protect the head from projectiles and blows.2
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
