Armor Type:  Chain mail

Brief Description:  A gousset was a flexible section of chain mail used in late medieval armor to protect vulnerable joint areas—such as the armpits, neck, elbows, and hips—that could not be fully covered by rigid steel plates without sacrificing mobility. As knights transitioned from full mail hauberks to articulated plate armor in the 14th century, they needed a way to cover the gaps left by the steel plates. Goussets were specifically attached to the underlying gambeson or arming doublet to act as flexible bridges.

Key characteristics of the gousset include:

Strategic Placement: Placed predominantly in high-mobility areas like the armpit (where it met the breastplate and pauldron), the crook of the elbow, the hip, and the neck.

Evolution of Design: In early plate harnesses, large amounts of mail were used. By 1450, Italian "white armor" designs extended the steel plates to cover these gaps, making goussets largely obsolete. However, they remained common in German Gothic armor for the rest of the century.

Historical Origins: The term eventually crossed over into general fashion and tailoring, evolving into the modern word "gusset"—referring to a triangular fabric insert used to add breathability and flexibility to garments.