escutcheon

Meanings

1. The shield on which a coat of arms is displayed, or, by extension, the coat of arms itself.
2. A small shield used to charge a larger one.
3. The pattern of distribution of hair upon the pubic mound.
4. A marking upon the back of a cow's udder and the space above it (the perineum), formed by the hair growing upward or outward instead of downward. It was once taken as an index of milking qualities.
5. The part of a ship's stern where its name is displayed.
6. A decorative or protective plate or bezel designed to fill the gap between a switch, pipe, valve, control knob, etc., and the surface from which it protrudes.
7. The insignia around a doorknob's exterior hardware or a door lock's cosmetic plate.
8. The depression behind the beak of certain bivalves; the ligamental area.

Etymology

From Middle English scochon, from Anglo-Norman escuchon, Old French escusson (French écusson), ultimately from Latin scutum (“shield”). Related to scutum, scute, scudo, escudo, and écu.