a piece of defensive armour, worn on the left arm, and composed of wickers woven together, or wood of the lightest sort, covered with hides, and fortified with plates of brass or other metal. Its figure was round, oval, or almost square. Bucklers were sometimes curiously adorned with figures of birds and beasts, and of the gods, the celestial bodies, and other natural objects; a custom which was derived from the heroic times, and from them communicated to the Grecians, Romans, and barbarians. The scutum, or Roman buckler, was composed of wood or wicker-work, and covered with a bull's hide. In the middle was an iron boss, or a spike, which was sometimes used to press violently upon the enemy. The Greek clipeus was smaller than the scutum, and quite circular. This species of shield belonged properly to other nations, though for some little time it was used by the Romans. Scuta were of two kinds, the ovata and the imbricata; the former of a plain oval figure; the latter oblong, and shaped like half a cylinder. Polybius (vi. 21) makes the scuta 4 feet by 2½, while Plutarch calls them scyphas, reaching down to the feet; and it is probable that they covered almost the whole body, since in Livy soldiers on guard are mentioned as sometimes sleeping with their heads on their shields, while the other extremity of the shield rested on the ground.

BUCKERS, Votive, those consecrated to the gods, and hung up in their temples, in commemoration of some hero, or as a thanksgiving for a victory over an enemy, whose bucklers, taken in war, were offered as trophies.