cataphract
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cataphract¹
- /ˈkætəfɹækt/ UK
- /ˈkætəˌfɹækt/ US
- [ˈkæɾə-] US
Where it comes from
From Latin cataphractes (“suit of armour”), from Ancient Greek κατάφρακτος (katáphraktos, “suit of armour”), from κατα- (kata-, prefix indicating a great degree or intensity) + φρακτός (phraktós, “protected; fenced in”) (from φράσσω (phrássō, “to fortify, secure; to fence in”)) + -της (-tēs, suffix forming nouns indicating a state of being).
noun cataphracts
- Defensive armour covering the entire body of a soldier and often the soldier's horse as well, especially the linked mail or scale armour of some eastern nations. Those fighting before the standards, around the standards and (otherwise) in the front line were called principes [i.e. the centurions and the other under-officers]. This was the heavy armament, which had helmets, cataphracts, greaves, shields, large swords called spathae, and other smaller swords c
- An outer covering of some fish resembling armour or plate.
cataphract²
- /ˈkætəfɹækt/ UK
- /ˈkætəˌfɹækt/ US
- [ˈkæɾə-] US
Where it comes from
The adjective is derived from Ancient Greek κατάφρακτος (katáphraktos, “covered, enclosed, shut up; completely suited in armour”), from καταφράσσειν (kataphrássein, “to suit in armour”) (see further at etymology 1) + -τος (-tos, “suffix forming adjectives”).
The noun is derived from Latin cataphractus (“wearing armour, mailed”), from Ancient Greek κατάφρακτος (katáphraktos, “covered, enclosed, shut up; completely suited in armour”); see above.
adjective
-
Of a galley such as a trireme: with the upper tier of rowers shielded rather than exposed.
And first we must call attention to the fact that two classes of vessels appear to have been employed, distinguished by the name of "Aphract," unfenced, or "Cataphract," fenced, according as the rowers of the upper tier were protected or exposed. Both classes were decked and floored, but the "Aphrac
Opposite: aphract
noun cataphracts
- A soldier (especially a horseman) covered with a cataphract (etymology 1, sense 1). He who lookes you in the face, ſaith he ſees you, though the reſt of your bodie be within your cloathes, and if you, being an ὁωλομάχος a cataphract in your proteſtantiſh πανοπλία [panoplía, suit of armour] should for fear pull downe your beuer before you come into the liſt, your Aduerſarie for all
- A galley with the upper tier of rowers shielded.
Translations
Every language
noun armour for the entire body of a soldier and often for the soldier's horse as well
| 日本語 | カタフラクト katafurakuto |
|---|---|
| Português | catafracta |
| Italiano | catafratta |
| Ελληνικά | κατάφρακτος katáfraktos |
adj with the upper tier of rowers shielded rather than exposed
| Ελληνικά | κατάφρακτος katáfraktos |
|---|
noun soldier covered with a cataphract
| Español | catafracto |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 철갑기병 cheolgapgibyeong |
| 日本語 | カタフラクト |
| 中文 | 全覆裝甲騎兵 /全覆装甲骑兵 quánfùzhuāngjiǎqíbīng |
| Português | catafractário |
| Français | cataphractaire |
| Deutsch | Kataphrakt |
| Italiano | catafratto |
| Ελληνικά | κατάφρακτος katáfraktos |
| Română | catafract |
| Русский | катафракта́рий katafraktárij |
| العربية | كاتافراكت |
| עברית | קטפרקט |
Talk about this word "cataphract." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/cataphract. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. cataphract. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/cataphract "cataphract." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/cataphract.Cite this
@misc{cataphract_2026,
title = {cataphract},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/cataphract},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
