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Weapon vs Shield - What's the difference?

weapon | shield |

As nouns the difference between weapon and shield

is that weapon is an instrument of attack or defense in combat or hunting, eg most guns, missiles, or swords while shield is anything that protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection.

As a verb shield is

to protect, to defend.

weapon

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An instrument of attack or defense in combat or hunting, e.g. most guns, missiles, or swords.
  • :
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Old soldiers? , passage=Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine.
  • An instrument or other means of harming or exerting control over another.
  • :
  • *
  • *:“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons  ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 15, author=Phil Dawkes, work=BBC
    • , title= Stoke 2-0 Bolton , passage=Rory Delap's long throw-ins are a familiar weapon to the Potters' opponents but this does not make them any easier to defend against.}}

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * ADW * assault weapon * ATGW * atomic weapon * AWB * biological weapon * biological-weapon * bioweapon * chemical weapon * cold weapon * conventional weapon * crew-served weapon * cyberweapon * doomsday weapon * murder weapon * nonweapon * nuclear weapon * NWIP * NWS * radiological-weapon * radiological weapon * ranged weapon * section automatic weapon * siege weapon * space weapon * squad automatic weapon * superweapon * superweaponry * thermonuclear weapon * weapon of mass destruction * weaponed * weaponeer * weaponization * weaponize * weapons free * weapons-grade * weapons hold * weapons tight * weaponsmith * WMD

    shield

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) shelde, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything that protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection.
  • # A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body.
  • #*
  • #*
  • #*
  • #*
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8 , passage=My client welcomed the judge […] and they disappeared together into the Ethiopian card-room, which was filled with the assegais and exclamation point shields Mr. Cooke had had made at the sawmill at Beaverton.}}
  • # Figuratively, one who protects or defends.
  • #*
  • # (lichenology) In lichens, a hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci.
  • # (mining) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses.
  • # (science fiction) A field of energy that protects or defends.
  • Something shaped like a shield, usually an inverted triangle with slightly curved lower sides.
  • # (heraldry) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms.
  • # A spot resembling, or having the form of a shield.
  • #*
  • # (obsolete) A coin, the old French crown, or , having on one side the figure of a shield.
  • # (label) A sign or symbol, usually containing numbers and sometimes letters, identifying a highway route.
  • # (colloquial, law enforcement) A police badge.
  • #*
  • (geology) A large expanse of exposed stable Precambrian rock.
  • # (geology) A wide and relatively low-profiled volcano, usually composed entirely of lava flows.
    • Hyponyms
    * * * * (hyp-mid3) * * * * (hyp-mid3) * * (hyp-bottom)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) scieldan.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To protect, to defend.
  • *
  • (electricity) to protect from the influence of

    • Anagrams

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