Targe
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Targe (from Old Franconian *targa "shield", Proto-Germanic *targo "border") was a general word for shield in late Old English. Its diminutive target came to mean an object to be aimed at in the 18th century.
The term refers to various types of shields used by infantry troops from the 13th to 16th centuries. More specifically, a targe was a concave shield fitted with two straps on the inside, one adjustable by a buckle, to be attached to the forearm, and the other fixed as a grip for the left hand. These shields were mostly made of iron or iron-plated wood. From the 15th century, the term could also refer to special shields used for jousting.
From the 18th century, use of the word was mostly restricted to the round shield used by the Scottish clans. These varied in size from about 12 to 30 inches (30.5 to 76 cm). It was generally made of several cowhides, boiled in animal fat and stretched over a solid wood or laminated wicker base. Once dry, it became almost as hard as metal. Originally, the targe was decorated as the maker desired. In time, the targe was designed to denote affiliation with a specific family, clan, or tribe.
