escutcheon, scutcheon

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escutcheon, scutcheon.
1. Shield or shield-shaped surface on which a coat of arms is depicted.

2. Hatchment, also known as funeral escutcheon.

3. Shield-shaped ornament, usually on Gothic buildings, on bosses, etc.

4. Plate over a keyhole. An escutcheon of pretence is a small escutcheon 1. bearing the arms of an heiress placed in the centre of her husband's shield, also called inescutcheon. In the arms of a Baronet, the inescutcheon is borne in chief and charged with the Red Hand of Ulster (because the Dignity of Baronet was instituted in 1610 to raise capital for the settlement and securing of Ulster by means of fines paid for the Dignity by armigerous families with lands to their name).