Buckler \Buc"kler\, n. [OE. bocler, OF. bocler, F. bouclier, a
shield with a boss, from OF. bocle, boucle, boss. See
Buckle, n.]
1. A kind of shield, of various shapes and sizes, worn on one
of the arms (usually the left) for protecting the front of
the body.
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Note: In the sword and buckler play of the Middle Ages in
England, the buckler was a small shield, used, not to
cover the body, but to stop or parry blows.
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2. (Zool.)
(a) One of the large, bony, external plates found on many
ganoid fishes.
(b) The anterior segment of the shell of trilobites.
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3. (Naut.) A block of wood or plate of iron made to fit a
hawse hole, or the circular opening in a half-port, to
prevent water from entering when the vessel pitches.
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Blind buckler (Naut.), a solid buckler.
Buckler mustard (Bot.), a genus of plants (Biscutella)
with small bright yellow flowers. The seed vessel on
bursting resembles two bucklers or shields.
Buckler thorn, a plant with seed vessels shaped like a
buckler. See Christ's thorn.
Riding buckler (Naut.), a buckler with a hole for the
passage of a cable.
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Buckler \Buc"kler\, v. t.
To shield; to defend. [Obs.]
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Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? --Shak.
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Buckler
(1.) A portable shield (2 Sam. 22:31; 1 Chr. 5:18).
(2.) A shield surrounding the person; the targe or round form;
used once figuratively (Ps. 91:4).
(3.) A large shield protecting the whole body (Ps. 35:2; Ezek.
23:24; 26:8).
(4.) A lance or spear; improperly rendered "buckler" in the
Authorized Version (1 Chr. 12:8), but correctly in the Revised
Version "spear."
The leather of shields required oiling (2 Sam. 1:21; Isa.
21:5), so as to prevent its being injured by moisture. Copper (=
"brass") shields were also in use (1 Sam. 17:6; 1 Kings 14:27).
Those spoken of in 1 Kings 10:16, etc.; 14:26, were probably of
massive metal.
The shields David had taken from his enemies were suspended in
the temple as mementoes (2 Kings 11:10). (See ARMOUR, SHIELD.)
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