Main Entry:

¹shield

Pronunciation:

\ˈshēld\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English sheld, from Old English scield; akin to Old High German scilt shield and probably to Old English sciell shell

Date:

before 12th century

1: a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm2: one that protects or defends : defense3: dress shield4 a: a device or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier b: a protective structure (as a carapace, scale, or plate) of some animals5: escutcheon ; especially : one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom6: the Precambrian nuclear mass of a continent that is surrounded and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks7: something resembling a shield: as a: apothecium b: a police officer's badge c: a decorative or identifying emblem