Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Shield?

\Shield\, n. [OE. sheld, scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld, scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G. schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skj["o]ldr, Sw. sk["o]ld, Dan. skiold, Goth. skildus; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Sheldrake}.] 1. A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, -- formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. See {Buckler}. Now put your shields before your hearts and fight, With hearts more proof than shields. --Shak. 2. Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. ``My council is my shield.'' --Shak. 3. Figuratively, one who protects or defends. Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. --Gen. xv. 1. 4. (Bot.) In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci. 5. (Her.) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. {Lozenge}. See Illust. of {Escutcheon}. 6. (Mining & Tunneling) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses. 7. A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield. ``Bespotted as with shields of red and black.'' --Spenser. 8. A coin, the old French crown, or ['e]cu, having on one side the figure of a shield. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {Shield fern} (Bot.), any fern of the genus {Aspidium}, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; -- called also {wood fern}. See Illust. of {Indusium}.
\Shield\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shielded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shielding}.] [AS. scidan, scyldan. See {Shield}, n.] 1. To cover with, or as with, a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect from assault or injury. Shouts of applause ran ringing through the field, To see the son the vanquished father shield. --Dryden. A woman's shape doth shield thee. --Shak. 2. To ward off; to keep off or out. They brought with them their usual weeds, fit to shield the cold to which they had been inured. --Spenser. 3. To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid! [Obs.] God shield that it should so befall. --Chaucer. God shield I should disturb devotion! --Shak.