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Of great weight; heavy; ponderous. [Obs.] His shield grave and great. Chapman.

secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend; to shelter; to shield from surprise or attack; to protect by attendance; toaccompany for protection; to vare for. For Heaven still guards the right. Shak.

and the opposite aide at the edge of the escutcheon. When there is only one gyron on the shield it is bounded by two linea drawn from the fess point, one horizontally to the dexter side, and one to the dexter chief corner.

The representation of a helmet over shields or coats of arms, denoting gradations of rank by modifications of form.

A shield-bearer or armor-bearer. Mitford.

One who holds a shield over another; hence, a defender. [Obs.] Chillingworth.

ve service; not turned to appropriate use; unemployed; as, idle hours. The idle spear and shield were high uphing. Milton.

ate. Spenser. This hand appeared a shining sword to weild, And that sustained an imitated shield. Dryden.

To join, as two coats of arms on one shield, palewise; hence, to join in honorable mention. Ordered the admission of St. Patrick to the same to be matched and impaled with the blessed Virgin in the honor thereof. Fuller.

The division of a shield palewise, or by a vertical line, esp. for the purpose of putting side by side the arms of husband and wife. See Impale, 3.

admitting the passage of other bodies; not to be entered; impervious; as, an impenetrable shield. Highest woods impenetrable To star or sunlight. Milton.

A device on a shield or seal, or used as a bookplate or the like. [Written also imprese and impress.] My impresa to your lordship; a swain Flying to a laurel for shelter. J. Webster.

A device. See Impresa. Cussans. To describe . . . emblazoned shields, Impresses quaint. Milton.

A small escutcheon borne within a shield.

a piece of work, and having hard steel surfaces to guide a tool, as a drill, or to form a shield or templet to work to, as in filing.

A strap used to fasten together parts of armor, to hold the shield by, and the like. Fairholt.

, or title, esp. one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon an heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration. Golden legend. See under Golden.

iamond-shaped figure usually with the upper and lower angles slightly acute, borne upon a shield or escutcheon. Cf. Fusil.

Having many folds, layers, or plates; as, a manifolded shield. [Obs.]

A musket-proof shield of rope, wood, or metal, which is sometimes used for the protection of sappers or riflemen while attacking a fortress, or of gunners at embrasures; -- now commonly written mantlet.