Targe
/tɑːrdʒ/noun
A small shield, especially a round or rectangular one used in medieval combat.
Did you know?Targe entered English through Old French and is ultimately tied to a Germanic root meaning a shield or cover, the same ancient defensive idea behind several other armor words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*targō
“shield, cover”
Old French
OF
targe
“shield, buckler”
Middle English
ME
targe
“shield, especially a small one”
Modern English
English
targe
“a small shield, especially in historical or heraldic contexts”