SHIELD, verb transitive 1. To cover, as with a shield; to cover from dasnger; to defend; to protect; to secure form assault or injury. To see the son the vanquish'd father shield. Dryden. Hear one that comes to shield his injur'd honor. Smith. 2. To ward off; to defend against; as clothes shield one from the cold.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI