1 Samuel 17:6

greaves Armour for the legs and feet: from Fr. grève, -the shin." "Greaves" from the Assyrian monuments are figured in Layard's NinevehII. 337. The following passage from Philemon Holland's translation of Pliny's Nat. Hist. VII. 20, quoted in the Bible Word-Book, illustrates both the matter and the language:

"My selfe haue seene one named Athanatus do wonderful strange matters in the open shew and face of the world, namely to walke his stations vpon the stage with a cuirace of lead weighing 500 pound [= 360 lbs. avoirdupois], booted besides with a pair of buskins or greiues(cothurni) about his legges that came to as much in weight."

brass The word translated brassmeans copper in such passages as Deuteronomy 8:9, where a natural metal is spoken of. In some instances the compound metal bronze (copper and tin) may be meant, but brass(copper and zinc) was unknown to the ancients.

a target Rather, a javelin, which was slung across his shoulders, as the Greeks sometimes carried their swords (Hom. Il.II. 45).Roman soldiers were often similarly armed with both pilum(javelin) and hasta(spear). The E. V. follows the Sept. and Vulg. in rendering "target," i.e. a kind of small shield. The marginal rendering "gorget," = "a piece of armour for the throat," from Fr. gorge, has nothing in its favour.