pelta

CIDE DICTIONARY

pelta, n. [L., a shield, fr. Gr. pe`lth.].

A small shield, especially one of an approximately elliptic form, or crescent-shaped. [1913 Webster]
A flat apothecium having no rim. [1913 Webster]

pelta, n. (pl. peltae)
1 a small light shield used by the ancient Greeks, Romans, etc.
2 Bot. a shieldlike structure.

Derivative

peltate adj.

Etymology

L f. Gk pelte