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/sheeld/, n.1. a broad piece of armor, varying widely in form and size, carried apart from the body, usually on the left arm, as a defense against swords, lances, arrows, etc.2. a similar device, often of lightweight plastic, used by riot police to protect themselves from rocks and other thrown objects.3. something shaped like a shield, variously round, octagonal, triangular, or somewhat heart-shaped.4. a person or thing that protects.5. a police officer's, detective's, or sheriff's badge.6. Ordn. a steel screen attached to a gun to protect its crew, mechanism, etc.7. Mining. a movable framework for protecting a miner from cave-ins, etc.8. Elect. a covering, usually made of metal, placed around an electric device or circuit in order to reduce the effects of external electric and magnetic fields.9. Zool. a protective plate or the like on the body of an animal, as a scute, enlarged scale, etc.10. See dress shield.11. Heraldry. an escutcheon, esp. one broad at the top and pointed at the bottom, for displaying armorial bearings.13. Geol. a vast area of ancient crustal rocks which, together with a platform, constitutes a craton.14. a protective barrier against nuclear radiation, esp. a lead or concrete structure around a reactor.v.t.15. to protect (someone or something) with or as if with a shield.16. to serve as a protection for.17. to hide or conceal; protect by hiding.18. Obs. to avert; forbid.v.i.19. to act or serve as a shield.[bef. 900; (n.) ME shelde, OE sceld; c. D, G Schild, Goth skildus; (v.) ME shelden, OE sceldan, scildan, deriv. of the n.]
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(as used in expressions)shield of arms* * *
Universalium. 2010.
