buffe

Etymology

Old French buffe.

noun

1. (historical) A piece of armor covering either the entire face, or the lower face together with a visor that covered the upper face, typically made of multiple lames that could be opened by being lowered (a falling buffe) or raised.
   It was used by the arquebusiers in 1560, and a buffe or chin-piece was strapped in front when occasion required. 1884, The Boy's Own Paper, page 119
   [In] a drawing of 1569 by Hogenberg […] It will be noticed that those engaged have the high standing buffes and the upper part of the visors of their helmets open for the convenience of breathing. 1904, The Archaeological Journal, page 308
   The close helmet is equipped with a "falling-buffe" (visor), that can be lowered for more air and a better view, and raised for maximum protection by depressing or releasing a lug (shown directly below the sitter's thumb). 1983, Cynthia Duval, Walter J. Karcheski, Medieval and Renaissance Splendor: Arms and Armor from the Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Works of Art from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida: an Exhibition at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, March 2-April 22, 1984
   With its hinged 'buffe' (visor) lowered, the head and neck was completely enclosed; the excellent protection it afforded allows Cleopatra to describe Antony figuratively as 'burgonet of men' (1.5.24). 2004, Charles Edelman, Shakespeare's Military Language: A Dictionary, A&C Black, page 65
   As no means were provided in the early armets for holding the visor down[,] the buffe projected above it and prevented its being forced up by a lance or sword thrust. 2013, George Cameron Stone, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times, Courier Corporation, page 18
   14 Closed and fully open views of a typical 'falling buffe' helmet of the period. The falling buffe started out as an extra piece strapped to the helmet, but eventually it was fastened to pivot, and the throat guard was also attached. 2017-09-21, Bouko de Groot, Dutch Armies of the 80 Years’ War 1568–1648 (2): Cavalry, Artillery & Engineers, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 14
   The post supporting the replaced rondel at the back strongly suggests that the helmet was meant to be worn along with a buffe, a reinforcing element that would have overlapped the lower half of the visor and continued down over the […] 2019, Pierre Terjanian et al., The Last Knight: The Art, Armor, and Ambition of Maximilian I, Metropolitan Museum of Art, page 246