écu

Écu is a French term with two principal senses. In heraldry, écu denotes the shield or escutcheon on which arms are displayed. The word derives from Old French escu, from Latin scutum meaning shield, and in heraldic descriptions the shield itself is often simply referred to as an écu.

In heraldic usage, the écu is the central field that bears the coat of arms. The shape and treatment of the écu can vary by period and region, but it remains the standard term for the shield image in French heraldry, with English usage typically translated as escutcheon.

As currency, the écu was a major French coin issued by the crown from the Middle Ages into the early modern period. It existed in gold and silver across various denominations, with values that fluctuated through reforms and reigns. The écu circulated not only in France but also in some neighboring regions and colonial contexts. By the late 18th century, monetary reforms associated with the French Revolution led to the replacement of the écu by the franc; thus the écu remains primarily of historical and numismatic interest today.

Etymology and usage notes: the term comes from Old French escu, itself from Latin scutum (shield). In modern French, écus are discussed in heraldry and in historical discussions of French coinage, while the word survives mainly as a historical reference rather than a contemporary currency unit.