gorget

Etymology

From Middle English gorget, from Old French gorgete, from gorge (“throat”).

noun

1. (historical) A piece of armour protecting the throat and/or the upper part of the chest.
   Hawkmoon whipped his sword from the scabbard, leaped forward, and drove the blade into the throat of the warrior just below his gorget. 1968, Michael Moorcock, The Mad God's Amulet, Gollancz, published 2003, page 209
   Renly lifted his chin to allow Brienne to fasten his gorget in place. 1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 500
2. (historical) A crescent-shaped ornamental metal plate suspended around the neck from the crescent's points by a length of chain or ribbon, used to indicate rank or authority and was worn as part of a dress military uniform by officers.
3. (historical) A type of women's clothing covering the neck and breast; a wimple.
4. An ornament for the neck; a necklace, ornamental collar, torque etc.
5. (surgery) A cutting instrument used in lithotomy.
6. A grooved instrument used in performing various operations; called also blunt gorget.
7. (zoology) A crescent-shaped coloured patch on the neck of a bird or mammal.
   There was […] the golden-winged woodpecker, with his crimson crest, his broad black gorget, and splendid plumage […] 1917, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
8. (UK, dialect, Cornwall) A hake caught in a net set for other fish.