scūtum

scūt-um

Possibly from Proto-Italic *skoitom (“shield”), from Proto-Indo-European*skoy-tó-m (“piece of wood, sheath, shield”), from *skey- (“to cut, split”); cognate with Old Irish scíath (“shield”), Russian щит (ščit, “shield”).Alternative theories derive the term from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH-(“to cover, protect”) via *(s)kuH-tó-m.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈskuː.tũː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈskuː.t̪um]

Noun

scūtum n (genitive scūtī); second declension

1. a type of shield: the scutum, the large oblong wooden shield carried by the Roman infantry
2. a shield
3. (by metonymy) shield-bearing soldiers
4. (figuratively) a defense, protection, shelter

Usage notes

• Although it has a technical meaning denoting a type of Roman shield, this word appears to have been also the generic word for "shield", suitable for referring to shields of other shapes and make.

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

	singular	plural
nominative	scūtum	scūta
genitive	scūtī	scūtōrum
dative	scūtō	scūtīs
accusative	scūtum	scūta
ablative	scūtō	scūtīs
vocative	scūtum	scūta