[shield] n [ME sheld, fr. OE scield; akin to OHG scilt shield and prob. to OE sciell shell] (bef. 12c) 1: a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm
2: one that protects or defends: defense
3: dress shield
4. a: a device or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier b: a protective structure (as a carapace, scale, or plate) of some animals
5: escutcheon; esp: one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom
6: the Precambrian nuclear mass of a continent that is surrounded and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks 7: something resembling a shield: as a: apothecium b: a police officer's badge c: a decorative or identifying emblem
[2]shield vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to protect with or as if with a shield: provide with a protective cover or shelter b: to cut off from observation: hide
2. obs: forbid syn see defend -- shield.er n