Note: In the sword and buckler play of the Middle Ages in
England, the buckler was a small shield, used, not to
cover the body, but to stop or parry blows.
2. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) One of the large, bony, external plates found on many
ganoid fishes.
(b) The anterior segment of the shell of trilobites.
3. (Naut.) A block of wood or plate of iron made to fit a
hawse hole, or the circular opening in a half-port, to
prevent water from entering when the vessel pitches.
{Blind buckler} (Naut.), a solid buckler.
{Buckler mustard} (Bot.), a genus of plants ({Biscutella})
with small bright yellow flowers. The seed vessel on
bursting resembles two bucklers or shields.
{Buckler thorn}, a plant with seed vessels shaped like a
buckler. See {Christ's thorn}.
{Riding buckler} (Naut.), a buckler with a hole for the
passage of a cable.