scutcheon

plural scutcheons · alternative 'scutcheon

1. An escutcheon; an emblazoned shield.

   The corpse lay in state, with all the pomp of scutcheons, wax lights, black hangings, and mutes.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter III, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   3 more examples

   But she againe him in the shield did smite / With so fierce furie and great puissaunce, / That, through his three-square scuchin piercing quite / And through his mayled hauberque, by mischaunce / The wicked steele through his left side did glaunce.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   There be now, for martial encouragement, some degrees and orders of chivalry; which nevertheless are conferred promiscuously, upon soldiers and no soldiers; and some remembrance perhaps, upon the scutcheon; and some hospitals for maimed soldiers; and such like things.

   1627, Francis Bacon, Essays of Francis Bacon or Counsels, Civil and Moral, Chapter 29. "Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates"

   The Attorney-General, however, had used this episode, which Martin in retrospect had felt to be a blot on the scutcheon, merely to emphasise the intelligence and resource of the prisoner.

   1935, Francis Beeding, “10/6”, in The Norwich Victims

2. An escutcheon; a small plate of metal, such as the shield around a keyhole.