Shield
/ʃiːld/noun
A protective object carried or used to defend against blows, weapons, danger, or harm.
Did you know?The word’s ancient root is also connected with scale, shell, and shale—separate forms of protective covering or split material.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skel-
“To split, cleave, or cut apart”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skelduz
“A shield, probably associated with a split or cleft wooden board”
Old English
OE
scield
“A shield or defensive piece of armor”
Middle English
ME
scheld
“A shield used for bodily or military defense”
Modern English
English
shield
“An object or person that protects against harm or attack”