I. An oblong shield, made of boards fastened together, and covered with leather, a buckler (whereas clipeus denotes a round shield, target of metal; cf. Veg. Mil. 2, 18): “scutum pro clipeo,” Liv. 1, 43: pedestre, of the infantry, Quadrig. ap. Gell. 9, 13, 14; 9, 13, 16; Liv. 6, 8; 7, 10: “equestria,” of the cavalry, id. 43, 6: “ad galeas induendas scutisque tegimenta detrahenda tempus defuit,” Caes. B. G. 2, 21: “scutis ex cortice factis aut viminibus intextis,” id. ib. 2, 33: “sublato scuto,” id. B. C. 2, 35: “abjecto scuto fugere,” Cic. Tusc. 2, 23, 54: “ut non modo non abjecto, sed ne rejecto quidem scuto fugere videar,” id. de Or. 2, 72, 294: “scutum reliquisse praecipuum flagitium,” Tac. G. 6: “hastas et scuta reclinant,” Verg. A. 12, 130: “fulgentia,” id. ib. 8, 93: “longa,” id. ib. 8, 539; Ov. Tr. 4, 1, 73; Liv. 7, 26; 38, 17: “erectum altius,” Amm. 24, 4, 4.—
B. Transf., heavyarmed soldiers, men bearing shields (late Lat.): “oppidum, ordine circumdatum trino scutorum, oppugnabat,” Amm. 24, 4, 10: “Agilo, scutorum densitate contectus,” id. 21, 12, 18 al.—
II. Trop., a shield, i. e. a defence, protection, sheiter, safeguard (rare): “sed ne quod tamen scutum dare in judicio viderentur eis, quos, etc.,” Cic. Tull. 18, 43: “scuto vobis magis quam gladio opus est,” Liv. 3, 53 fin. (for which, just before: “praesidia libertatis non licentiae ad impugnandos alios): Fabius novam de Hannibale victoriam commentus est, non pugnare. Hinc illud ex populo, ut Imperii scutum vocaretur,” Flor. 2, 6, 27; cf.: “Deus, scutum meum,” Vulg. 2 Reg. 22, 3: “scutum fidei,” id. Eph. 6, 16.