pavis noun & verb. ['pavɪs] Also pavise. LME.
[Old & mod. French pavais (mod. pavois) from Italian pavese from medieval Latin pavense, from Pavia, a city in northern Italy where pavises were orig. made.]
Hist.
A. noun.
1. A large convex shield for protecting the whole body against arrows, used esp. in sieges; any large shield. LME.

2. A screen of pavises; a pavisade; any screen used in fighting. LME.
b. verb trans. Cover, shelter, or defend with a pavis. LME.

■ paviser, pavisor noun a soldier armed with or bearing a pavis LME.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲