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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
− | [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''sheld'', from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] ''scield''; akin to Old High German ''scilt'' shield and probably to Old English ''sciell'' shell | + | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''sheld'', from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] ''scield''; akin to Old High German ''scilt'' shield and probably to Old English ''sciell'' shell |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1: a broad piece of [[defensive]] [[armor]] carried on the arm | | *1: a broad piece of [[defensive]] [[armor]] carried on the arm |
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| *4a : a device or part that serves as a protective cover or [[barrier]] | | *4a : 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]] | | :b : a protective [[structure]] (as a carapace, scale, or plate) of some [[animals]] |
− | *5: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escutcheon escutcheo]n; especially : one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom | + | *5: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escutcheon escutcheo]n; especially : one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom |
− | *6: the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precambrian Precambrian] nuclear mass of a [[continent]] that is [[surrounded]] and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks | + | *6: the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precambrian Precambrian] nuclear mass of a [[continent]] that is [[surrounded]] and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
| A '''shield''' is a type of personal [[armor]], meant to intercept [[attacks]], either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace, battle axe or similar [[weapon]] to the side of the shield-bearer. | | A '''shield''' is a type of personal [[armor]], meant to intercept [[attacks]], either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace, battle axe or similar [[weapon]] to the side of the shield-bearer. |
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− | Shields vary greatly in size, ranging from large panels that protect the user's entire body to small models (such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckler buckler]) that were intended for hand-to-hand-combat use. Shields also vary a great deal in thickness; whereas some shields were made of relatively deep, [[absorbent]], wooden planking to protect [[soldiers]] from the impact of spears and crossbow bolts, others were thinner and lighter and designed mainly for deflecting blade strikes. | + | Shields vary greatly in size, ranging from large panels that protect the user's entire body to small models (such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckler buckler]) that were intended for hand-to-hand-combat use. Shields also vary a great deal in thickness; whereas some shields were made of relatively deep, [[absorbent]], wooden planking to protect [[soldiers]] from the impact of spears and crossbow bolts, others were thinner and lighter and designed mainly for deflecting blade strikes. |
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− | In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory prehistory] and during the era of the earliest civilizations, shields were made of wood, animal hide, [[woven]] reeds or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicker wicker]. In classical antiquity, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Period Migration Period] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages], they were normally constructed of poplar, lime or another split-resistant timber, covered in some instances with a material such as leather or rawhide and often reinforced with a metal boss, rim or banding. They were carried by foot [[soldiers]], knights and cavalry. | + | In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory prehistory] and during the era of the earliest civilizations, shields were made of wood, animal hide, [[woven]] reeds or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicker wicker]. In classical antiquity, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Period Migration Period] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages], they were normally constructed of poplar, lime or another split-resistant timber, covered in some instances with a material such as leather or rawhide and often reinforced with a metal boss, rim or banding. They were carried by foot [[soldiers]], knights and cavalry. |
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| Shape wise, depending on time and place, shields could be round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular or scalloped. Sometimes they took on the form of kites, flatirons or figures-of-eight, or had rounded tops on a rectangular base with perhaps an eyehole inserted. The shield was held by a central grip or by straps which went over or around the user's arm | | Shape wise, depending on time and place, shields could be round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular or scalloped. Sometimes they took on the form of kites, flatirons or figures-of-eight, or had rounded tops on a rectangular base with perhaps an eyehole inserted. The shield was held by a central grip or by straps which went over or around the user's arm |
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− | Often shields were decorated with a painted [[pattern]] or an [[animal]] [[representation]] and these [[designs]] developed into systematized [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraldry heraldic] devices during high-medieval times for purposes of battlefield [[identification]]. Even after the introduction of gunpowder and firearms to the battlefield, shields continued to be used by certain groups. In the 18th century, for example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Highland Scottish Highland] fighters liked to wield small shields (known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targe targe]), and as late as the 19th century, some non-industrialized peoples employed them (such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_Kingdom Zulu] warriors) when waging war. | + | Often shields were decorated with a painted [[pattern]] or an [[animal]] [[representation]] and these [[designs]] developed into systematized [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraldry heraldic] devices during high-medieval times for purposes of battlefield [[identification]]. Even after the introduction of gunpowder and firearms to the battlefield, shields continued to be used by certain groups. In the 18th century, for example, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Highland Scottish Highland] fighters liked to wield small shields (known as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targe targe]), and as late as the 19th century, some non-industrialized peoples employed them (such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_Kingdom Zulu] warriors) when waging war. |
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− | In the 20th and 21st century, shields have been used by [[military]] and police units that specialize in anti-[[terrorist]] actions, hostage [[rescue]], riot control and [[siege]]-breaking. The modern term usually refers to a device that is held in the hand or attached to the arm, as opposed to an armored suit or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet-proof_vest bullet-proof] vest. Shields are also sometimes mounted on vehicle-mounted weapons to protect the operator. | + | In the 20th and 21st century, shields have been used by [[military]] and police units that specialize in anti-[[terrorist]] actions, hostage [[rescue]], riot control and [[siege]]-breaking. The modern term usually refers to a device that is held in the hand or attached to the arm, as opposed to an armored suit or a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet-proof_vest bullet-proof] vest. Shields are also sometimes mounted on vehicle-mounted weapons to protect the operator. |
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| [[Category: History]] | | [[Category: History]] |