Cuisses (/kwɪs/; /kwis/; French: [kɥis]) are a form of medieval armour worn to protect the thigh.
While the skirt of a maille shirt or tassets of a cuirass could protect the upper legs from above, a thrust from below could avoid these defenses.
Padded cuisses made in a similar way to a gambeson were commonly worn by knights in the 12th and 13th centuries, usually over chausses, and may have had poleyns directly attached to them.
Whilst continental armours tended to have cuisses that did not protect the back of the thigh, English cuisses were typically entirely encapsulating, due to the English preference for foot combat over the mounted cavalry charges favoured by continental armies.
[2] Perimeridia (Ancient Greek: περιμηρίδια) and Parameridia (παραμηρίδια) were metal armour for covering the thighs.