The couter (also spelled as cowter) is the part of an armour that protects the elbow. Initially it consisted only of a curved piece of metal, but as plate armour developed, the couter evolved into an articulated joint that offered more freedom of movement while continuing to protect the elbow.
Couters became popular from the 1320s onwards and were a standard part of full plate armour. Nowadays couters are regularly referred to as elbow cop.
Internal links
- Vambraces: protection of the forearms in armour
- Rerebrace: upper arm protection in medieval armour
- Gauntlets: medieval gloves for hand and wrist
- Gambeson: medieval quilted armour and protection
- Munition armour: Mass production of armour 15th–17th century
