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bouclier

shield

noun boo-klee-EH Less Common
People & Society Military

Origin: Old French bocle (shield boss)

Usage Note

Bouclier is the standard word for a shield (both a physical shield and a metaphorical one). Un bouclier humain is a human shield; un bouclier fiscal is a tax shield (a legal cap on taxation). The word shares a root with boucle (buckle, loop) — both referred originally to a round boss. The plural is regular: des boucliers.

Examples

"Le chevalier leva son bouclier pour se protéger."

Natural Translation

The knight raised his shield to protect himself.

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