shield
→
shooting target
1 realization
Related shifts
| ID | Meaning 1 | Direction | Meaning 2 |
| NEW Realization 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Semantic evolution | |
| Language 1 | Middle English | |
| Language 2 | English | |
| Lexeme | target | |
| Meaning 1 | light shield, often small and round in shape; a targe, buckler | |
| Direction | → | |
| Meaning 2 | shooting target | |
| Reference | MED | |
| Comment | diminutive of late Old English targe, from Old French targe 'light shield' (12c.), from Frankish *targa 'shield', from Proto-Germanic *targ-. Meaning "round object to be aimed at in shooting" first recorded 1757, originally in archery. | |