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es·cutch·eon

(i-skŭchən)

1. Heraldry A shield or shield-shaped emblem bearing a coat of arms.

2. An ornamental or protective plate, as for a keyhole.

3. Nautical The plate on the stern of a ship inscribed with the ship's name.

Idiom:

a blot on (one's) escutcheon

Dishonor to one's reputation.

[Middle Englishescochon, fromAnglo-Normanescuchon, fromVulgar Latin*scūtiō, scūtiōn-, fromLatinscūtum, shield; see skei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

es·cutcheonedadj.

(click for a larger image)

escutcheon

the areas of a shield

A. dexter chief

B. center chief

C. sinister chief

D. dexter flank

E. fess point

F. sinister flank

G. dexter base

H. center base

I. sinister base

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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