Page 254 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

approximately the same shape as The later Saxons and Normaas used
the modem Heraldic shield though the long kite shaped shield which
up-side-down. The Greeks and was perfectly sensible for foot
soldiers but extremely awkward to
handle on horseback.
About 1200 the shape of the shield
changed to what came to be known
as the ' heater' type. This was
shorter than the kite shield and con-
siderably wider and curved to fit the
body. It was upon this type of shield
that the early coats of arms were
emblazoned.
By the late 13th century the size
had been much reduced and the
cuve of the shield was nothing like
so pronounced.
This was followed in the 14th
century by a type which did not
follow the conventional shape, it
was nearly rectangular, pointed ak
the base and carried a notch in the
left hand corner (£rom the viewer's
point of view) for the lance.
%y 1600 the shieId had almost
disappeared in European couutries
in favour of improved armour for
the left side of the body. The one
exception to this being the round
target shield with central spike car-
ried by the clansmen during the
Jacobite rebellions.
Shrimp - A type of small armoured
barrow with two light guns pointing
Knight 1220 with 'heaîer' shield
forward through a tapered shield
and a cluster of curved blades in the
Bronze Age tribesmen used a round front. This was used at the siege of
shield; in the case of the Greeks Boulogne 1543.
it was generally emblazoned with
some rnonster or animal. The Shonlder Pi- - A general name
Romans preferred the square given to armour specifically
scutum which stood about three designed for the protection of the
feer high and was slightly curved. shoulder. .
These were frequentIy used in
batches to form a protective walI. S M - A skirt shaped piecc of plate
The early Saxons used a round armour designed to cover the
shield named ' target ' which was abdomen and hips. This has been
generally painted in different variously designed to fit closely to
coloured roundles and from which the contours of the body and to be
the word larget of today is derived. flared out.