pavis

n. [ OF. pavaix, F. pavois; cf. It. pavese, LL. pavense; perh. named from Pavia in Italy. ] (Mil. Antiq.) A large heavy oblong shield covering the whole body, carried by a pavisor, who sometimes also screened an archer with it. It was originally carried but sometimes set up in permanent position [ Written also pavis, pavais, pavese, and pavesse. ] Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]