What is "shield fern"

Shield \Shield\, n. [OE. sheld, scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld, scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G. schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skj["o]ldr, Sw. sk["o]ld, Dan. skiold, Goth. skildus; of uncertain origin. Cf. Sheldrake.]

1. A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, -- formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. See Buckler.

   Now put your shields before your hearts and fight, With hearts more proof than shields.
   --Shak.

2. Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. ``My council is my shield.''
   --Shak.

3. Figuratively, one who protects or defends.

   Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
   --Gen. xv. 1.

4. (Bot.) In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci.

5. (Her.) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. Lozenge. See Illust. of Escutcheon.

6. (Mining & Tunneling) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses.

7. A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield. ``Bespotted as with shields of red and black.''
   --Spenser.

8. A coin, the old French crown, or ['e]cu, having on one side the figure of a shield. [Obs.]
   --Chaucer.

   Shield fern (Bot.), any fern of the genus Aspidium, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; -- called also wood fern. See Illust. of Indusium.

n. Any of the fern genus ''Dryopteris''.

n. any of various ferns of the genera Dryopteris or Polystichum or Lastreopsis having somewhat shield-shaped coverings on the sori [syn: buckler fern]

Shield fern is a common name for ferns in several genera and may refer to:

• Dryopteris
• Lastreopsis
• Polystichum