In its simplest form, mail consists of small rings woven together to form a mesh.  Armor created from this mesh is thought to have been used in Europe, Asia, and North Africa as early as 300 BC.  Mail armor provided protection against both slashing weapons such as swords and piecing weapons such as arrows or pikes.  Sometime during the Dark Ages, the term "ring mail" was coined to differentiate this form of armor from scale mail, splinted mail, and lamellar armor.  In modern usage, ring mail became known as chainmail, and the French "maille" is often substituted for "mail" to differentiate the term from the postal service.  Thus, the term "chainmaille" was born.

Today, protective chainmaille clothing is still used by butchers, scuba divers, animal control officers, and some police departments.  However, chainmaille has made an even larger resurgence in historical reenactments, as decorative ornamentation for military uniforms, sculpture, and jewelry.

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