What does pelta mean?
A pelta was a small, lightweight shield associated with ancient Greek light infantry, particularly the Thracian troops commonly known as peltasts. Its relatively modest size allowed a soldier to move with greater speed and flexibility than an infantryman carrying a large, heavy hoplite shield. In English, the word is now chiefly historical and appears mainly in discussions of classical antiquity, ancient military equipment, and the equipment of peltasts. It should not be confused with a pelt, which means an animal skin or fur, or with a peltast, which denotes the soldier who carried the shield. Although uncommon in ordinary speech, the pelta is useful for understanding a distinctive element of Greek warfare, in which speed, mobility, and specialized missile weapons could offset the protective advantages of heavier equipment.
nounA small shield used by Greek light infantry, especially Thracian peltasts. The term is chiefly historical and now most often encountered in accounts of ancient warfare.
- A small shield used by Greek light infantry.
"The soldier carried a light pelta that allowed him to move quickly while still protecting his upper body."
"The peltast raised his pelta against the missiles before advancing."
"Archaeologists identified the iron fitting as part of a pelta rather than a larger hoplite shield."
The standard plural is peltae. In general English prose, 'shields' is often clearer in less technical contexts.
"Several bronze fittings from the excavated camp have been interpreted as parts of peltae."
A Greek pelta was the ancient equivalent of a lightweight personal shield—small enough for fast-moving infantry, but still a major tactical advantage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pelta come from?
The English word comes through Latin pelta from Greek πέλτη (peltē), meaning a small shield. Greek peltē also underlies pelt, an animal skin or hide, because a stretched hide could serve as a shield. The military term developed specialized associations with the light infantry known as peltasts.
How pelta is actually used
This is a rare historical term. In modern English it is mostly confined to classical scholarship and popular accounts of ancient Greek warfare; 'peltast' refers to the soldier, not the shield.
Easily confused with pelta
A pelta is an ancient Greek shield, whereas a pelt is an animal skin or the fur used to make one.
A pelta is the small shield carried by a peltast, while a peltast is the Greek light infantryman who carried it.