LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

pelta

pelta f (genitive peltae)
Classical[ˈpɛɫ.ta]Ecclesiastical[ˈpɛl.ta]

Meaning

  1. femininea small crescent-shaped shield of Thracian design.

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Scutum · Clypeus · Parma

Scutum (σκύτος) is a larger shield, covering the whole body, σάκος; clypeus and parma smaller shields of a round form, ἀσπίς; clypeus (κλοπιός, καλύψαι) for foot-soldiers; parma (πάλμη) for horse-soldiers also; lastly, pelta (πέλτη) a small shield in the form of a half-moon; cetra, a small leathern shield. Liv. ix. 19. Macedonibus clupeus . . . Romano scutum, majus corpori tegumentum. Liv. xxxi. 36. Cetratos, quos peltastas vocant, in insidiis abdiderat.

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativepeltapeltae
genitivepeltaepeltārum
dativepeltaepeltīs
accusativepeltampeltās
ablativepeltāpeltīs
vocativepeltapeltae

pelta, ae, f., = πέλτη,
I. a small, light shield in the shape of a half-moon, originally used by the Thracians and other barbarous people, Liv. 28, 5, 11; Verg. A. 1, 490; 7, 743; Ov. P. 3, 1, 96; Sil. 2, 80; Plin. 12, 5, 11, § 23; Sen. Hip. 402; Vulg. 2 Par. 23, 9.

Origins

From Ancient Greek πέλτη (péltē).

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesPeltaPelta (πέλτη), a small shield. Iphicrates, observing that the ancient CLIPEUS was cumbrous and inconvenient, introduced among the Greeks a much smalle…

Quick answers

What does pelta mean in Latin?
pelta, a noun, means “a small crescent-shaped shield of Thracian design.”.
What is the genitive of pelta?
The genitive singular is peltae. pelta is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce pelta?
In classical Latin, [ˈpɛɫ.ta]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈpɛl.ta].