The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TESTUDO
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
E
S
T
U
D
O
More clues leading to the result TESTUDO
- Grasping English boss we have to shield, historically
- Header missed in game after trial for Roman defence
- Protecting screen TVs originally used to broadcast
- Protective screen placed in position around most of royal family
- Key involved in opening up protective cover
- Rome’s defence in trial over party in which minors are admitted
- Toe accidentally broken by macho guy making shield for troops
- Duettos composed in shelter
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "shield, historically" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case shield, historically = testudo.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TESTUDO mean?
TESTUDO noun- A shelter formed by a body of troops by holding their shields or targets close together over their heads.
- A shelter of similar shape for miners, etc.
- A kind of lyre; so called in allusion to the lyre of Mercury, fabled to have been made of the shell of a tortoise.
- An encysted tumour.
- The fornix.