n. | 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. |
| 2. | Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. |
| 3. | Figuratively, one who protects or defends. |
| 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. |
| 8. | A coin, the old French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. |
v. t. | 1. | To cover with, or as with, a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect from assault or injury. |
| 2. | To ward off; to keep off or out. |
| 3. | To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid! |
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