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          Aketon- Padded tunic worn under armor
            
 
Arrow Loop - A narrow vertical slit cut into a wall through
            which arrows could be fired from inside.
 
 
Bailey - The castle courtyard, inside the castle walls,
            includes exercise area, parade ground, emergency corral
           
          Banners - Brightly colored flags, often very long and
            beautifully decorated.
         
          Battering ram -  A long wooden beam that was swung at
            castle walls to knock them down.
         
          Battlements - Low wall on top of the main castle walls. 
            Soldiers could shelter behind them when under attack.
 
Baluster - A small column.
          
 
              
 
            Buckler - Small round shield.
         
     
              
 
            
        Coat of arms - Badge or crest worn by a knight, showing he belonged
        to a noble family. 
     
            
        Crusades -  Wars between Christians and Muslims for the right to
        rule the Holy Land.
         
            
        Curb Bit - Metal bar that goes inside the horse's mouth.  It helps
        the rider control the horse.
         
            
        Dungeons - Small dark rooms where prisoners were kept, usually
        underground.
           
            
        Dubbed - Tapped on the shoulders.  Part of the ceremony of becoming
        a knight. 
            
       
            
        Falchion - Curved, single - edged sword.
         
            
        Guardroom - A room, usually close to the gate of a castle, for the
        guards to use.
           
            
        Hawking  - Hawks are large birds that kill other animals for
        food.  For this sport they were sent to catch wild birds, such as
        pigeons.
          
 
            
        Minstrel - A singer and storyteller who entertained knights and lords
        during feasts. 
         
            
        Melee - Mock battle fought by teams of knights.
           
            
        Palfrey - Horse specially bred to be comfortable to ride.
         
            
        Parapet - The walkway along the top of a castle wall.
          
       
            
        Plate armor - Armor made of large pieces of metal, shaped to fit the
        body.
         
 
            
        Rushes - Long grass that was dried and put on floors.
           
            
        Quintain - Machine used for practice fighting.  It was made
        of  a wooden pole with a shield at one end and a heavy weight on
        the other.
         
            
        Squire - A young man, usually the son of a knight or lord, who was
        training to become a knight.
         
            
        Tapestries - Decorated wall hangings, usually made of woolen cloth.
         
            
        Tournament - Mock battles fought by knights for sport and fun. 
            
            
              
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