Adjacent Words

Escutcheon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ESCUTCH'EON, n. [L. scutum, a shield.] The shield on which a coat of arms is represented; the shield of a family; the picture of ensigns armorial.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a flat protective covering (on a door or wall etc) to prevent soiling by dirty fingers [syn: finger plate, escutcheon, scutcheon]
2: (nautical) a plate on a ship's stern on which the name is inscribed
3: a shield; especially one displaying a coat of arms [syn: escutcheon, scutcheon]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English escochon, from Anglo-French escuchoun, from Vulgar Latin *scution-, scutio, from Latin scutum shield — more at esquire Date: 15th century 1. a defined area on which armorial bearings are displayed and which usually consists of a shield 2. a protective or ornamental plate or flange (as around a keyhole) 3. the part of a ship's stern on which the name is displayed

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms. 2 the middle part of a ship's stern where the name is placed. 3 the protective plate around a keyhole or door-handle. Derivatives: escutcheoned adj. Etymology: AF & ONF escuchon ult. f. L scutum shield

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Escutcheon Es*cutch"eon, n. [OF. escusson, F. ['e]cusson, from OF. escu shield, F. ['e]cu. See Esquire, Scutcheon.] 1. (Her.) The surface, usually a shield, upon which bearings are marshaled and displayed. The surface of the escutcheon is called the field, the upper part is called the chief, and the lower part the base (see Chiff, and Field.). That side of the escutcheon which is on the right hand of the knight who bears the shield on his arm is called dexter, and the other side sinister. Note: The two sides of an escutcheon are respectively designated as dexter and sinister, as in the cut, and the different parts or points by the following names: A, Dexter chief point; B, Middle chief point; C, Sinister chief point; D, Honor or color point; E, Fesse or heart point; F, Nombrill or navel point; G, Dexter base point; H, Middle base point; I, base point. 2. A marking upon the back of a cow's udder and the space above it (the perineum), formed by the hair growing upward or outward instead of downward. It is esteemed an index of milking qualities. --C. L. Flint. 3. (Naut.) That part of a vessel's stern on which her name is written. --R. H. Dane, Jr. 4. (Carp.) A thin metal plate or shield to protect wood, or for ornament, as the shield around a keyhole. 5. (Zo["o]l.) The depression behind the beak of certain bivalves; the ligamental area. Escutcheon of pretense, an escutcheon used in English heraldry to display the arms of the bearer's wife; -- not commonly used unless she an heiress. Cf. Impalement.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Shield, scutcheon, ensign armorial.

Moby Thesaurus

achievement, alerion, animal charge, annulet, argent, armorial bearings, armory, arms, azure, bandeau, bar, bar sinister, baton, bearings, bend, bend sinister, billet, blazon, blazonry, bordure, broad arrow, cadency mark, canton, chaplet, charge, chevron, chief, coat of arms, cockatrice, coronet, crescent, crest, cross, cross moline, crown, device, difference, differencing, eagle, ermine, ermines, erminites, erminois, falcon, fess, fess point, field, file, flanch, fleur-de-lis, fret, fur, fusil, garland, griffin, gules, gyron, hatchment, helmet, heraldic device, honor point, impalement, impaling, inescutcheon, label, lion, lozenge, mantling, marshaling, martlet, mascle, metal, motto, mullet, nombril point, octofoil, or, ordinary, orle, pale, paly, pean, pheon, purpure, quarter, quartering, rose, sable, saltire, scutcheon, shield, spread eagle, subordinary, tenne, tincture, torse, tressure, unicorn, vair, vert, wreath, yale