An escutcheon ( ) is a general term for a decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item. Escutcheon is an

Old Norman Old Norman, also called Old Northern French or Old Norman French ( fro, Ancien Normant, nrf, Ancien Normaund), was one of many varieties of the '' langues d'oïl'' native to northern France. It was spoken throughout the region of what is now call ...

word derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word ''scutum'', meaning a shield. Escutcheons are most often used in conjunction with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components and fixtures where a pipe, tube, or conduit passes through a wall r other materialsurface. The escutcheon is used to bridge the gap between the outside diameter of the pipe and the inside diameter of the opening in said surface. An escutcheon can also refer to an item of

door furniture Door furniture (British and Australian English) or door hardware (North American English) refers to any of the items that are attached to a door or a drawer to enhance its functionality or appearance. Design of door furniture is an issue to ...

. In this case, it is an architectural item that surrounds a

keyhole A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object (such as a key, keycard, fingerprint, RFID card, security token or coin), by supplying secret information (such as a number or letter permutation or pas ...

or lock cylinder, and is often part of a

lockset A lockset (alternatively lock set) is the hardware and components that make up the locking or latching mechanism that can usually be found on a door or other hinged object but can also include sliding doors and dividers. The components of a lockset ...

. Escutcheons help to protect a lock cylinder from being drilled out or snapped, and to protect the surrounding area from damage and wear from the end of the key when it misses the keyhole. Some escutcheons come in pairs with a plain one to go on the outside of the door while the matching escutcheon inside has a rotating cover to prevent prying eyes.Price, George (1856). A Treatise on Fire and Thief-proof Depositories, and Locks and Keys. Simpkin, Marshall and Company. pp. 53. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ZatMAAAAMAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=escutcheon+drilling+lock&ots=n0o6QgaB_G&sig=tp-WdUK9r6TAxe3lKn0J_Qrg2Ak&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=drill&f=false The cover also prevents insects and dust from getting into the house/room.

References

External links

* Door furniture {{architecturalelement-stub