Escutcheon (furniture) An escutcheon (pronounced /ɪˈskʌtʃən/, i-SKUCH-ən) is a general term for a decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item. Escutcheon is an old French word derived from the Latin word scutum, meaning a shield. Escutcheons are most often used in conjunction with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components and fixtures where a pipe, tube, or conduit passes through a wall [or other material] surface.