Escutcheon definition

ĭ-skŭchən
escutcheons
See word origin
Frequency:
(heraldry) A shield or shield-shaped emblem bearing a coat of arms.
noun
1
0
(nautical) The plate on the stern of a ship inscribed with the ship's name.
noun
0
0
A shield or shield-shaped surface on which a coat of arms is displayed.
noun
0
0
Something shaped like an escutcheon.
  • A protective, often ornamental shield or plate, as that around a keyhole.
  • The space on a ship's stern bearing the name.
noun
0
0
(heraldry) An individual or corporate coat of arms.
noun
0
0
Advertisement
(medicine) The pattern of distribution of hair upon the pubic mound.
noun
0
0
A marking upon the back of a cow's udder and the space above it (the perineum), formed by the hair growing upward or outward instead of downward. It was once taken as an index of milking qualities.

noun
0
0
(nautical) The part of a ship's stern where its name is displayed.

noun
0
0
A decorative and/or protective plate or bezel to fill the gap between a switch, pipe, valve, control knob, etc., and the surface from which it protrudes.
noun
0
0
The insignia around a doorknob's exterior hardware or a door lock's cosmetic plate.
noun
0
0
Advertisement
The depression behind the beak of certain bivalves; the ligamental area.
noun
0
0
An ornamental or protective plate, as for a keyhole.
noun
0
1
a blot on (one's) escutcheon
  • Dishonor to one's reputation.
idiom
0
1
a blot on one's escutcheon
  • a stain on one's honor; disgrace to one's reputation
idiom
0
0

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
escutcheon
Plural:
escutcheons

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

a blot on (one's) escutcheon
a blot on one's escutcheon

Origin of escutcheon

  • Middle English escochon from Anglo-Norman escuchon from Vulgar Latin scūtiō scūtiōn- from Latin scūtum shield skei- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Anglo-Norman escuchon, Old French escusson (French écusson), ultimately from Latin scutum (“shield”).

    From Wiktionary

Escutcheon Sentence Examples

  • This energetic action on Grant's part saved the United States from a foul stain upon its escutcheon.

  • In May 1670 he received the titles of excellency and privy councillor; in July of the same year he was ennobled under the name of Griffenfeldt, deriving his title from the gold griffin with outspread wings which surmounted his escutcheon; in November 1673 he was created a count, a knight of the Elephant and, finally, imperial chancellor.

  • Here his conduct was anything but diplomatic. He at once announced himself as the protector of the extreme Jacobins in Rome, demanded the expulsion of the French emigres who had taken refuge there, including the "demoiselles Capet," and ordered the fleur-de-lys on the escutcheon of the French embassy to be replaced by a picture of Liberty painted by a French art student.

  • The government got alarmed when the mob one night attacked the German embassy, tore the arms of the empire from the door of the consulate, and dragged the escutcheon to the Puerto del Sol, where it was burnt amid much uproar.

  • The ' Lucas ' switch has an integral non detachable escutcheon.

More sentences

Words near escutcheon in the Dictionary