the shield carried by a mounted man-at-arms in the Middle Ages.
any of various gold and silver coins of France, issued from the 13th through the 18th centuries, bearing the figure of a shield.
any of various former French gold or silver coins
a small shield
1695–1705; < French; Old French escu < Latin scūtum shield
E(uropean) C(urrency) U(nit), perhaps with play on écu ( def. )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The marcandiers had to pay an écu; they were tramps clothed in a tolerably good doublet, who passed themselves off as merchants ruined by war, by fire, or by having been robbed on the highway.
From Manners, Customs, and Dress During the Middle Ages and During the Renaissance Period by Jacob, P. L.
Then taking a little leathern purse from his breast, he slipped an écu into the mountaineer's hand.
From A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest by Edwards, Amelia Ann Blanford
The days when the diligences of Europe drew up before an old-time inn, with the sign of a pewter plate, an écu d'or, a holly branch, or a prancing white horse, have long since disappeared.
From The Automobilist Abroad by Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)
A pistole now represents 10 francs, and an écu 3 francs.
From Wanderings by southern waters, eastern Aquitaine by Barker, Edward Harrison
Charles would not or could not contribute a single écu d'or, and Joan had to solicit help and funds from the towns.
From Joan of Arc by Gower, Ronald Sutherland
The ECU said leaving the coverage on iPlayer until the Monday morning was also a "serious mistake" and breached guidelines.
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026
When it comes to deciding the right moment to shift from warming up to working out, ECU Professor of Biomechanics Tony Blazevich notes that there is no universal guideline.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025
“Our guys are swinging and missing it by, like, three feet,” ECU coach Cliff Godwin said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
ECU: The Pirates refused to say who would start at quarterback and they may not know who will take the first snap next week because both struggled.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2023
In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has since depreciated around 2.5% against the dollar.
From The 1993 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
As a holder of two degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and as an assistant professor at E.C.U.,
From Time Magazine Archive
One of their wives is discussing the E.C.U. and the S.S.C. with a hitherto silent curate, and the other is jabbering botany to a red-faced warrior.
From Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines by Vizetelly, Henry
Eleven years later Dr. Pusey wrote: "As to his being President of the E.C.U., he is the sense and moderation of it."
From Prime Ministers and Some Others A Book of Reminiscences by Russell, George William Erskine
Statement, E.C.U., for "The New Gospel of Interpretation; being an Abstract of the Doctrine and Statement of the Objects of the Esoteric Christian Union," by E.M.; revised and enlarged edition, 1892.
From The Story of Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland and of the new Gospel of Interpretation by Maitland, Edward
E.C.U., for "The Esoteric Christian Union," founded by E.M. in 1891.
From The Story of Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland and of the new Gospel of Interpretation by Maitland, Edward
Arnaud had two horses at his mother's farm; he lent one to Gaspard, I borrowed mine for two écus.
From In the Day of Adversity by Bloundelle-Burton, John
It was at an expense of two hundred thousand écus that the welcoming fête was accomplished.
From Royal Palaces and Parks of France by McManus, Blanche
This, one reads in the court chronicle, and further that: "The royal family usually lost a hundred thousand écus at play at each visit."
From Royal Palaces and Parks of France by McManus, Blanche
Fifty écus; that was one hundred and fifty francs!
From Nobody's Boy Sans Famille by Crewe-Jones, Florence
According to her marriage settlement the Queen Henrietta possessed a dowry of eight hundred thousand crowns, equivalent to eight hundred thousand écus de trois livres, French currency.
From The Makers of Canada: Champlain by Dionne, N.-E. (Narcisse-Eutrope)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
