shield

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shield article of defensive armour; (fig.) protection, OE. sċ(i)eld = OS., OHG. scild (Du., G. schild), ON. skjǫldr, Goth. skildus — Gmc. *skelduz, prob. orig. ‘board’ and so f. base *skel-divide, separate (cf. SCALE1).
Hence vb. OE. sċeldan, sċildan.

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