The soleret is a part of armor protecting the foot. This protection, at the made origin of meshs, was decorated as of the 13th century of iron parts. Those were then attached thanks to belts; but, starting from the end of the 14th century, progress as regards manufacture of armours made it possible to manufacture solerets entirely in iron parts articulated between them, true iron shoe to the aspect of carapace.

At the beginning of the 15th century, spread the soleret with Poulaine, comprising, beyond the foot, a long downwards being curved iron point. The legend allots it to a deformity of the foot of Foulque IV, count d' Anjou, at the beginning of the 11th century, or of that of Henri II of England, at the 12th century. In fact, this form takes as a starting point the civil shoe called pigace or pigache, very with the mode at the 14th century but known since the Antiquité. This form was to also make it possible the foot to better hold in the clamp, but it obstructed the walking, also certain models of poulaines were removable.

The length of the poulaine was strictly regulated in civil clothing and, one supposes it, also in the version for shoes of war. Princes and dukes were entitled to a shoe measuring twice and half the length of the foot itself (thus a poulaine making once and half the foot); the high aristocracy was entitled to twice the length of the foot; and knights with once and half.

Thereafter towards the end of the 15th century, as appeared the soleret in foot of bear, known as in mouth of cow, at the end flattened, the manner of a muzzle of Vache, and broader as the remainder of the shoe. There still, the legend wrongfully allots the origin of it to the six toes of Charles VIII. The " half-foot of ours" , known as also half-shoe, appeared shortly after. Lastly, about the middle of the 16th century, the foot of bear yielded the place to the soleret out of lever handle, whose semicircular end completely points out the boots or the shoes reinforced with today.