a blot on (one's) escutcheon



a blot on (one's) escutcheon

A stain or mark against one's reputation or that of one's family. An escutcheon was a heraldic shield that bore a family's coat of arms, and thus serves as a metaphor for one's honor. I was at the top of my class in college, but that narcotics charge will be a blot on my escutcheon for years to come.
See also: blot, escutcheon, on

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Alfy
MalinMAH-lin (Swedish, Norwegian), MAH-leen (Finnish)Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish
EugenOI-gen (German)German, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian
Benedito-Portuguese
JaneJAYNEnglish
Annalise-English (Modern)