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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now put your shields before your hearts and fight,
With hearts more proof than shields. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. “My council is my shield.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Figuratively, one who protects or defends. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen. xv. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Her.) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. Lozenge. See Illust. of Escutcheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mining & Tunneling) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield. “Bespotted as with shields of red and black.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A coin, the old French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shouts of applause ran ringing through the field,
To see the son the vanquished father shield. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

A woman's shape doth shield thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To ward off; to keep off or out. [ 1913 Webster ]

They brought with them their usual weeds, fit to shield the cold to which they had been inured. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid! [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

God shield that it should so befall. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

God shield I should disturb devotion! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, carries a shield. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any small moth of the genus Aspidisca, whose larva makes a shieldlike covering for itself out of bits of leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A sheldrake. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of a shield, or of protection. -- Shield"less*ly, adv. -- Shield"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of small burrowing snakes of the family Uropeltidae, native of Ceylon and Southern Asia. They have a small mouth which can not be dilated. [ 1913 Webster ]