noun
- Plural of lorica; segmented or scale armor worn by Roman soldiers, consisting of overlapping metal plates or scales sewn to a fabric backing.
Usage: historical; chiefly used in academic and archaeological contexts
Examples
- Roman legionaries were often equipped with loricas that provided excellent protection in battle.
- Archaeological digs have uncovered fragments of loricas from the first century CE.
- The museum's collection includes several well-preserved loricas from the imperial period.
- Soldiers wearing loricas could move more freely than those in heavier plate armor.
- Ancient texts describe the construction and maintenance of loricas in detail.