1. short cloaks or capes, especially women’s sleeveless garments worn over other clothing
Usage: historical; fashion
2. portable protective shields used by soldiers during sieges
Usage: military; historical

Examples

• The Victorian ladies wore elegant silk mantelets to the opera.
• Her collection included several vintage mantelets from the 1800s.
• The museum displayed ornate mantelets worn by wealthy women of the era.
• Medieval soldiers advanced behind wooden mantelets during the siege.
• The castle’s defenders watched as enemy troops assembled their mantelets.
• Historical reenactors demonstrated how mantelets protected attacking forces.