Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Scutum
‖
Scu′tum
,Noun.
pl.
Scuta
(#)
. [L.]
1.
(Rom. Antiq.)
An oblong shield made of boards or wickerwork covered with leather, with sometimes an iron rim; – carried chiefly by the heavy-armed infantry.
2.
(O. Eng. Law)
A penthouse or awning.
[Obs.]
Burrill.
3.
(Zool.)
(a)
The second and largest of the four parts forming the upper surface of a thoracic segment of an insect. It is preceded by the prescutum and followed by the scutellum. See the Illust. under
Thorax
. (b)
One of the two lower valves of the operculum of a barnacle.