A scutarius in ancient Rome was any of the various types of gladiator who used a large shield called a samnite shield,[1] which is named after another type of gladiator—a samnite.
In Latin, the shield was called a scutum—where the name scutarius comes from.
Due to having a large shield, scutarii would wear shin armour (ocrea) on their shield leg.
Scutarii also usually carried short swords and wore visored helmets.
[2] A scutarius could also refer to a guard armed with a scutum, as well as someone who made shields.