A couple of billiard balls, all mud and dirt, two battered hats, a champagne bottle […]

[N]one among the choice and prime / Of thoſe Heav'n-warring Champions could be found / So hardie as to proffer or accept / Alone the dreadful voyage; …

Fabric grids or egg crates, such as those made by Lighttools, work much the same way for different sizes of softboxes. These egg crates restrict the direction of the light and how much it spreads across the entire surface of the softbox or subject.

It was used by the arquebusiers in 1560, and a buffe or chin-piece was strapped in front when occasion required.