mesail means the visor of a helmet, especially when made in two parts.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, mesail ranks #7,116 of 20,675 for Qualifying.
mesail is pronounced /ˈmɛseɪl/.
Etymology
Probably from Old French muçaille (“concealment”), via French mézail; only attested in English since the 1800s (also spelled mezail, mursail). Alternatively, a connection to muzzle has also been suggested.
noun
- The visor of a helmet, especially when made in two parts.“The mesail face-defence, still consisting of the visor with its eye-slits and noseguard attached to the helmet by two pivots, could be raised or lowered at will, while the two shell-shaped cheek-pieces formed a bevor or chin [guard].”