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Glite Dictionary
nipple shield

nipple shield

5.4
A thin rubber or plastic cover that fits over a woman's nipple to help feed a baby
  • noun
  • /ˈnɪpəl ʃiːld/
translation icon : protector de pezón
  • I was given a nipple shield to help with his latch.

So I had to wear a nipple shield to stick on my nipple and a no true story.

Examples

  • The doctor recommended a nipple shield to help protect her sore nipples during breastfeeding.

  • She suggested we try the nipple shield again.

    Blog text (21)

  • The nurse had a nipple shield that she gave me like from the hospital, but now that I know more about them, it was not a good one.

  • So I had to wear a nipple shield to stick on my nipple and a no true story.

    Saving Grace

  • The lactation consultants came and visited her and gave her nipple shields and a pump, but I was astounded that they weren't more enthusiastic about the case.

    Blog text (17)

  • Using a nipple shield can make breastfeeding easier for mothers struggling with latch issues.

  • Many mothers find that a nipple shield assists them in feeding their babies more comfortably.

Surface Forms

nipple shield singular
nipple shields plural

Morphology

nipple + shield

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'nipple' (the breast projection that secretes milk) with 'shield' (a protective cover); the compound literally denotes a protective cover for the nipple. This follows a transparent noun+noun compounding pattern and 'shield' readily extends to small protective covers, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the MWE.

Etymology

The noun nipple shield comes from a simple image: a small shield put over the nipple to protect it while a mother feeds her baby. That's why it means 'a thin protective cover used while feeding a baby'.