noun
escutcheon
A protective or decorative plate around a keyhole, handle, or fitting.
A brass escutcheon surrounds the keyhole on the front door.
Etymology
The older word means a small shield. A plate around a fitting serves a comparable covering or protective role, extending the shield name to hardware.
More examples
- The plumber slides the escutcheon over the pipe to cover the gap.
- The loose escutcheon rattles whenever I turn the door handle.
- We choose matching escutcheons for the cabinet locks.
Forms
escutcheon · escutcheons
Similar words
- faceplate
- A broader term for a plate covering a mechanism.
- backplate
- Usually sits behind a fixture rather than framing an opening.