Shield (?), n. [OE. sheld,
scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld,
scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G.
schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skjöldr, Sw.
sköld, 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
écu, 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.
Shield (?), n. [OE. sheld,
scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld,
scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G.
schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skjöldr, Sw.
sköld, 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
écu, 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.
