noun
wooden shield (against arrows); mantlet
Historical term for a portable wooden shield or mantlet used to protect against arrows in pre-modern warfare.
戦国時代の合戦では、矢盾が弓矢から兵士を守るために使われた。
In battles of the Warring States period, wooden shields were used to protect soldiers from arrows.
盾 is the general word for 'shield', while 矢盾 specifically refers to a shield designed to stop arrows, often a larger wooden mantlet.
Compound of 矢 (ya, 'arrow') and 盾 (tate, 'shield'). The reading やたて is a straightforward combination of the two elements.