# What do you call the badge that goes here?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 16, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793 "2015-04-16T00:20:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793/1 "2015-04-16T00:20:12Z")

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What do you call the square badge that would go on the front of briefcases and the like.

The one that is missing in [this](http://oi59.tinypic.com/5o5s0x.jpg) picture.

I am looking to get a custom on made but not even the slightest idea how.

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**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793/2 "2015-04-16T00:54:04Z")

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Name plate?

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793/3 "2015-04-16T00:59:14Z")

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> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> I am looking to get a custom on made but not even the slightest idea how.

Find a place that makes trophies, like for high school football, or bowling leagues.

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**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793/4 "2015-04-16T11:32:01Z")

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If you are in the US or Canada, your local Things Remembered store has metal plates that can be attached, though with that being a recessed cavity it might be a little more challenging to find a size that will match. Take the case with you, and if one of their standard service plates won’t fit, ask them to look through their replacement plates as well. They can also engrave the plate for you. Plates are self-adhesive; if you want a more secure attachment use a household cement.

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-badge-that-goes-here/717793/5 "2015-04-16T11:45:12Z")

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> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> What do you call the square badge that would go on the front of briefcases and the like.
> 
> The one that is missing in [this](http://oi59.tinypic.com/5o5s0x.jpg) picture.
> 
> I am looking to get a custom on made but not even the slightest idea how.

I submit that the formal name for that plate is an _escutcheon_ - see Def #3 here:

> **[Definition of ESCUTCHEON](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escutcheon)**
>
> a defined area on which armorial bearings are displayed and which usually consists of a shield; a protective or ornamental plate or flange (as around a keyhole); the part of a ship's stern on which the name is displayed… See the full definition

On a pocket knife, the little metal inlay, sometimes shield-shaped but often rectangular, is called this…