shield
Unicode: 1F6E1 FE0F
Description
A shield, typically round or rectangular, often depicted with a raised boss in the center and sometimes with a handle or a pattern. It represents protection, defense, security, and sometimes heraldry or a coat of arms.
Group:
Objects > tool
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents a sense of security, defense, safety, or readiness to protect. It can also imply strength, resilience, or a sense of belonging (e.g., to a team or family crest).
Backstory
The shield emoji was introduced in Unicode 7.0 (2014). Shields have been used throughout human history as a primary form of defense in combat and are deeply ingrained in many cultures' mythology, history, and symbolism. Its digital representation aims to capture this universal meaning of protection.
Usage Examples
- Indicating protection or security: 'We need to put a 🛡️ around our data.'
- Representing defense in games or sports: 'Our team's defense was like a 🛡️ tonight.'
- Symbolizing a coat of arms or emblem: 'This is the 🛡️ of our family.'
- Referring to historical knights or battles: 'A knight with his trusty 🛡️ and sword.'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Commonly associated with knights, medieval times, heraldry, and military defense. Used for security, protection, and sometimes a symbol of a family or organization's identity.
East Asian culture:
Less commonly used for personal expression compared to Western contexts, but still understood as a symbol of protection, defense, or a 'crest' often seen in games or traditional symbols.