sheltron

Meaning

Noun

• A compact body of troops holding their shields close together to form a roof and a shield wall; a testudo.
• Any compact body of troops forming a battle array or phalanx, especially such a body of Scottish troops armed with pikes during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

Origin

• From Middle English scheltroun, sheltroun, from Old English sċieldtruma, from sċield (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH-) + truma (possibly from trum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *drew-, *dóru).