escutcheon

/ɪˈskʌtʃən/
noun
  1. A shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.
    • Each family had its own escutcheon to show its heritage.
    • The knight's escutcheon displayed a golden lion on a blue background.
    • The castle gate was decorated with a carved stone escutcheon.
  2. A decorative or protective plate around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch.
    • The escutcheon on the drawer was tarnished and needed polishing.
    • The antique door had a brass escutcheon around the keyhole.
    • I replaced the old plastic switch plate with an elegant escutcheon.
  3. A person's reputation or honor (often used in the phrase 'blot on one's escutcheon').
    • The scandal was a blot on his escutcheon that he never recovered from.
    • She worked hard to keep her escutcheon clean in the community.
    • The politician's dishonesty left a permanent stain on his escutcheon.
Synonyms
What does "escutcheon" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean