tarcze

Tarcze is the plural form of tarcza in Polish. The term designates several related notions, all rooted in the idea of a flat, round surface or shield, and its meaning is context dependent. Etymologically, tarcza arises from historical words for a protective shield and has broadened to refer to various circular plates.

In armor and protection, tarcze originally referred to shields used to deflect blows. In contemporary usage, the plural can describe protective circular shields, such as riot shields or other defensive discs employed in security contexts.

In mechanical engineering, tarcze commonly denote circular plates involved in motion and power transmission. Key examples are tarcze hamulcowe, or brake discs, which work with brake pads to slow or stop rotation, and tarcze sprzęgła, or clutch discs, which transfer torque within a transmission. These components are typically made of materials designed to withstand friction and heat.

In heraldry and art, tarcza plays the role of a shield in the coat of arms. The tarcza shape is often depicted as the shield’s outline on emblems and heraldic designs.

In astronomy and optics, tarcza can describe a disk-like surface or apparent disk of celestial bodies, such as the tarcza Słońca (the Sun’s disk) or other astronomical objects observed as circular profiles.

See also: tarcza heraldyczna, tarcze hamulcowe, tarcze ochronne.