escutcheon
/ɪˈskʌtʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈskʌtʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈskə-chən/ (ame, mw)
escutcheon — noun
- escutcheonsingular
- escutcheonsplural
1. A decorative or protective metal plate fitted around a keyhole, a door handle, o
A decorative or protective metal plate fitted around a keyhole, a door handle, or a light switch to cover the gap in the surface and prevent wear.
The old oak door had an ornate brass escutcheon around the keyhole.
collocation: brass escutcheon / ornate escutcheon
Ling replaced the cracked plastic light-switch escutcheon with a stainless steel one.
position: around a light switch
When the door handle's escutcheon came loose, Tomás tightened the two small screws behind it.
The antique shop owner polished the silver escutcheon on an old cabinet door.
- keyhole plate
more specific — refers only to the plate around a keyhole, not a handle or switch
- faceplate
broader term used for the front cover of any wall fitting
- cover plate
more general; can apply to any protective or concealing plate
用法筆記
Often made of brass, silver, or stainless steel. The screw holes on the escutcheon plate allow it to be fixed to the surface.
常見錯誤
2. A shield-shaped surface or badge on which a family, institution, city, or countr
A shield-shaped surface or badge on which a family, institution, city, or country displays its official heraldic emblem, known as a coat of arms.
The family's escutcheon, bearing a golden lion, hung above the fireplace in the hall.
possessive + escutcheon: family's escutcheon
In heraldry, an escutcheon can be divided into sections to represent different branches of a family.
heraldic context
The university's escutcheon features an open book and a torch as symbols of learning.
Mei traced the faded escutcheon on her grandfather's old letterhead paper.
- shield
broader and more common; escutcheon is the formal heraldic term for a shield bearing a coat of arms
- coat of arms
refers to the whole design, not just the shield-shaped surface it appears on
- armorial bearing
formal synonym used in heraldic writing
用法筆記
In formal heraldic contexts, escutcheon refers specifically to the shield shape that carries the coat of arms. Distinguish from crest, which sits above the escutcheon on a helmet.
常見錯誤
3. A metal plate attached to the rear of a ship or boat that displays the vessel's
A metal plate attached to the rear of a ship or boat that displays the vessel's registered name for official identification.
The ship's name was written in white letters across the brass escutcheon at the stern.
position: at the stern
Workers polished the escutcheon on the ferry's stern before the launch ceremony.
The old fishing boat's escutcheon was so rusted that nobody could read the name anymore.
Captain Osei pointed to the escutcheon and said the vessel had carried that name for fifty years.
- nameplate
common general term for any plate bearing a name; less specific than escutcheon
- stern plate
describes the position rather than the function
用法筆記
This is a specialized nautical term. In everyday speech, 'nameplate' or 'ship's nameplate' is far more common.