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escutcheon

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escutcheon

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Escutcheon  \Es*cutch"eon\,  n.  [OF.  escusson  F.  ['e]cusson,  from 
  OF  escu  shield,  F.  ['e]cu.  See  {Esquire},  {Scutcheon}.] 
  1.  (Her.)  The  surface,  usually  a  shield,  upon  which  bearings 
  are  marshaled  and  displayed.  The  surface  of  the  escutcheon 
  is  called  the  field,  the  upper  part  is  called  the  chief, 
  and  the  lower  part  the  base  (see  {Chiff},  and  {Field}.). 
  That  side  of  the  escutcheon  which  is  on  the  right  hand  of 
  the  knight  who  bears  the  shield  on  his  arm  is  called 
  dexter,  and  the  other  side  sinister. 
 
  Note:  The  two  sides  of  an  escutcheon  are  respectively 
  designated  as  dexter  and  sinister,  as  in  the  cut,  and 
  the  different  parts  or  points  by  the  following  names: 
  A,  Dexter  chief  point;  B,  Middle  chief  point;  C, 
  Sinister  chief  point;  D,  Honor  or  color  point;  E,  Fesse 
  or  heart  point;  F,  Nombrill  or  navel  point;  G,  Dexter 
  base  point;  H,  Middle  base  point;  I,  base  point. 
 
  2.  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  is  esteemed  an  index  of 
  milking  qualities.  --C.  L.  Flint. 
 
  3.  (Naut.)  That  part  of  a  vessel's  stern  on  which  her  name  is 
  written.  --R.  H.  Dane,  Jr 
 
  4.  (Carp.)  A  thin  metal  plate  or  shield  to  protect  wood,  or 
  for  ornament,  as  the  shield  around  a  keyhole. 
 
  5.  (Zo["o]l.)  The  depression  behind  the  beak  of  certain 
  bivalves;  the  ligamental  area. 
 
  {Escutcheon  of  pretense},  an  escutcheon  used  in  English 
  heraldry  to  display  the  arms  of  the  bearer's  wife;  --  not 
  commonly  used  unless  she  an  heiress.  Cf  {Impalement}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  escutcheon 
  n  1:  a  flat  protective  covering  (on  a  door  or  wall  etc)  to 
  prevent  soiling  by  dirty  fingers  [syn:  {finger  plate},  {scutcheon}] 
  2:  (nautical)  a  plate  on  a  ship's  stern  on  which  the  name  is 
  inscribed 
  3:  a  shield;  especially  one  displaying  a  coat  of  arms  [syn:  {scutcheon}]




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