Cuisses are a form of medieval armour worn to protect the thigh. The word is the plural of the French word cuisse meaning 'thigh'.

The poleyn was a component of Medieval and Renaissance armour that protected the knee. During the transition from mail armour to plate armour, this was among the earliest plate components to develop. They first appeared in the mid-thirteenth century and during the fifteenth century poleyns developed an articulated construction that attached to the cuisses and schynbalds or greaves. A characteristic of late fifteenth century gothic armour was a projection that guarded the side of the knee.

A greave (from 12th cent ury French greve "shin", of uncertain origin) is a piece of armour that protects the leg. Historically they were often made in matched pairs (a pair of greaves), greaves may be constructed of materials ranging from padded cloth to steel plate.