1. (historical) an oblong shield made of boards or wickerwork covered with leather, sometimes with an iron rim, carried chiefly by heavy-armed Roman infantry
   "The legionnaire deflected the arrow with his scutum"
    
2. (zoology) the second and largest of the four parts forming the upper surface of a thoracic segment of an insect
   "The scutum of the bee provides attachment points for flight muscles"
    
3. (anatomy) any shield-shaped structure, especially a bony plate
   "The scutum of the shoulder blade provides protection for underlying tissues"

Derived forms: scuta

Encyclopedia: Scutum