buckler noun & verb. ['bʌklǝ] ME.
[Anglo-Norman bucler, Old French bocler (mod. bouclier), orig. adjective in escu bocler shield having a boss, from bocle boss, BUCKLE noun: see -ER².]
A. noun.
1. Hist. A small round shield usu. held by a handle. ME.

2. fig. A means of defence. LME.

3. A shieldlike part of the protective covering of an animal. E19.

Comb.:
buckler-fern any of certain ferns of the genus Dryopteris, with kidney-shaped indusia.
b. verb trans.
1. Act as a buckler to, shield. L16.

2. Ward or catch (blows). rare (Shakes.). Only in L16.

■ bucklered adjective armed with a buckler, furnished with bucklers M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲