scudo
shield
noun SKOO-doh Rare
Origin: From Latin scutum (shield), carried by Roman legionaries.
Also means
coat of arms
Usage Note
Scudo is masculine and covers both the literal object (a warrior's shield) and the heraldic sense (a coat of arms or escutcheon). It was also the name of a historical Italian currency before the lira. In modern usage scudo spaziale means 'missile defense shield,' and scudetto (its diminutive) refers to the Italian football league championship trophy.
Examples
"Il cavaliere alzò lo scudo per difendersi."
Natural Translation
The knight raised his shield to defend himself.

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