The term rivet derives from the "overlapping plates sliding on rivets" characteristic of this type of armour. Almain is the Early Modern English term for "German", from the French alemanique, from the mediaeval Latin alemanicus, from Alemanni, an early Germanic tribe. The term was introduced in about 1530 and remained in use until about 1600. Based on the term almain-rivet, the word rivet itself acquired a meaning of "armour", attested (rarely) during the mid-16th century.