Breast"plate` (&?;), n.
1. A plate
of metal covering the breast as defensive armor.
Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked headpiece mended.
Swift.
2.
A piece against which the workman presses his breast in
operating a breast drill, or other similar tool.
3. A strap that
runs across a horse's breast. Ash.
4. (Jewish Antiq.)
A part of
the vestment of the high priest, worn upon the front of the
ephod. It was a double
piece of richly embroidered stuff, a span square, set with twelve precious stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel. See Ephod.
Hear it pronounced