1. (n.) A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, -- formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. See Buckler.

2. (n.) Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection.

3. (n.) Figuratively, one who protects or defends.

4. (n.) In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci.

5. (n.) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. Lozenge.

6. (n.) A framework used to protect workmen in making an a ditch under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses.

7. (n.) A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield.

8. (n.) A coin, the old French crown, or ecu, having on one side the figure of a shield.

9. (n.) To cover with, or as with, a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect from assault or injury.

10. (n.) To ward off; to keep off or out.

11. (n.) To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid!

achievement advocate aegis alerion animal charge annulet apply to argent arm arm guard armament armature armor armor plate armorial bearings armory arms azure backstop bandeau bar bar sinister baton bearings bend bend sinister billet blanket blazon blazonry bless block body armor bordure broad arrow buckler buffer bulletproof vest bulwark bumper cadency mark canopy canton chain armor chain mail chamber champion chaplet charge chevron chief chitin cloak clothe cloud coat coat of arms coat of mail cockatrice compass about contraceptive cope copyright coronet cortex cover cover up coverage covering covert coverture cowl cowling crash helmet crescent crest cross cross moline crown curtain cushion dashboard defence defend device difference differencing dodger drape drapery eagle eclipse elytron ensure episperm ermine ermines erminites erminois escutcheon face mask falcon fence fend fender fess fess point field file film finger guard flanch flank fleur-de-lis foot guard fret fur fuse fusil garland goggles governor griffin guarantee guard guard against guardrail guise gules gyron habergeon hand guard handrail hanging harbor hard hat harness hatchment hauberk haven helmet heraldic device honor point hood house housing impalement impaling inescutcheon insulation insure interlock keep keep from harm knee guard knuckle guard label laminated glass lay on lay over life preserver lifeline lightning conductor lightning rod lion lorica lorication lozenge mail make safe mantle mantling marshaling martlet mascle mask metal motto mudguard muffle mullet needles nestle nombril point nose guard obduce obscure occult octofoil or ordinary orle overlay overspread pad padding pale pall palladium paly panoply patent pean pericarp pheon pilot plate plate armor police preventive prophylactic protect protection protective clothing protective covering protective umbrella purpure put on quarter quartering register ride shotgun for roof rose sable safeguard safety safety glass safety plug safety rail safety shoes safety switch safety valve saltire screen scum scutcheon scute scutum seat belt secure security shell shelter shin guard shroud spines spread eagle spread over subordinary suit of armor sun helmet superimpose superpose