What is the primary meaning of 钖?

It originally referred to decorative metal plates on a horse's forehead in ancient China, and later extended to mean a type of shield.

Is 钖 commonly used in modern Chinese?

No, it's relatively rare and primarily appears as a variant character or in classical contexts.

Note the metal radical (钅) on the left, distinguishing it from 杨 (wood radical) and 扬 (hand radical).

钖Tone 2

yáng ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 钅

Decorative metal plates on horse's forehead;

ancient term for a type of shield;

variant form of 鍚.

Decorative metal plates on horse's foreheadancient term for a type of shieldvariant form of 鍚.

Horse forehead decorationAncient shieldMetal ornamentVariant character

Originally referred to decorative metal plates on a horse's forehead in ancient China.
Later extended to refer to a type of shield in classical texts.
Now primarily used as a variant character and is relatively rare in modern usage.