heraldric terms

8/9/2019 Heraldric Terms

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HeraldicTerms

abased or abais used of an ordinary borne below its usual position abatementone of the nine marks of degradation of coat armour

abatement one of the nine marks of degradation of coat armour

accoll (see gorged)

accosted side by side

accrued grown to maturity

achievement a fully marshalled coat of arms

acorned bearing acorns

addorsed placed back to back, used especially of wings lying close to a creature'sback

affronte full-faced

Agnus Dei a lamb bearing a cross with a halo round its head

aisl winged

alant or aland a mastiff with short ears

alauda lark

allerion an eagle without beak or feet

ambulant (see passant)

amethyst a semi-precious stone, formerly used to express purpure

ancient a small flag on the stern of a ship

ancred or anchored used of cross whose four tips resemble anchor flukes
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2/34

annulet a ring

antique crown (see eastern crown)

appaum a hand open, with fingers and thumb at full length

argent (arg.) the metal silver, shown as white in heraldic illustration

armed used to describe all birds of prey whose talons and beaks are coloureddifferently from their bodies, also quadrupeds so variegated

arrach (see erased)

arrondie rounded

assis (see sejant)

attired applied to the horns of animals of the deer species instead of armed

attires the horns of a buckazure (az.) bluebadge decorative device identifying a family, often borne by retainers, e.g., onlivery. It is not strictly speaking part of a heraldic achievement and is therefore notincluded in the illustrations of arms in this book. Indeed it is only included in thisglossary at all because of popular misapprehension as to its status. (For a similarmisapprehension see also crest)

baillond used of a lion holding a staff in its mouth

banded encircled with a band or riband

bar a horizontal division occupying one fifth of the shield

barbed (from the French word borbe) the leaves surrounding a full blown rose are

called barbs, hence the phrase 'a rose gu. barbed etc'

barnacles instruments used by farriers to curb horses

baron and femme, per the impalement of the arms of husband and wife
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billets rectangles

billet seme of billets

bird-bolt a small blunt-headed arrow

blazon rules under which coats of arms are drawn up; also, as a verb, to describe acoat of arms in correct heraldic language

bordure a uniform edge to a shield, occupying one fifth of the field

botonne used of a cross whose tips resemble trefoils

bouget (see water-bouget)

bowed embowed or arched braced (see interlaced)

breys (see barnacles)

brimsey a gad-fly

brassarts/brassets armour for the elbows and arms

burgonet a steel cap worn in battle

cabossed/caboshed used of a full-faced animal head cut off just above the neck

cabre, effray or salient used of a horse rising on its hind legs

cadency used of younger sons or descent from a junior branch of the family

caduceus a wand with two snakes entwined round it

caltrap, galtrap or chevaltrap an iron weapon used to wound horses' hooves, itsspikes being positioned so that however it lies on the ground one will always pointupwards

Calvary or passion cross a cross with three steps

canting arms arms which include a punning allusion to the name of the bearer

canton corner division occupying one third of the chief

cartouche an oval, formerly used to show armorials of Popes and other clerics
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5/34

cap of maintenance or dignity, or chapeau headgear of crimson velvet doubledermine

caparison the trappings of a warhorse carbuncle (see escarbuncle)

casque a helmet

castle shown in heraldry as two towers at either end of a wall, the latterembattled and with a gatewaycat-a-mountain a wild cat, always drawn guardant

celestial crown an eastern or antique crown with a star on each point

cercelle (see recercelle)

chain-shot bullets linked by a chain

chamber piece a short piece of artillery without a gun carriage (see mortar)

chapeau (see cap of maintenance)

chaplet a garland of flowers and leaves charge a figure or device on a shield

charged used of a field or ordinaries with a device on themchauss shod

chequy or checky used ofa field covered with small squares of alternate tinctures

chevron a division of a shield shaped like the lower half of a saltire and occupyingone third or one fifth of the area, according to whether it is charged or not

chevronel half-size diminutive of chevron chief the upper third of a shield

chimera a monster with a woman's face, a lion's mane and legs, a goat's body and a

dragon's tailcinquefoil a five-petalled flower

civic wreath or a garland of oak leaves and acorns crown

clarion or claricord a rest for a lance
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6/34

clenched used of a closed hand closet diminutive of bar

cockatrice a monster with a bird's wings and legs and a snake's tail

colour in its specialised heraldic meaning, one of three types of tincture

combatant fighting or rampant face to face

compony and compony counter compony used of an ordinary made up of one(compony) or two (counter-compony) rows of alternate squares of metals andcolours

confront facing each other conjoined joined together

conjoined in used of two wings joined together, their tips downwards lure

contourn used of an animal facing to the sinistercorbie a raven

corded an ordinary or charge bound with cords

cotised or cottised (in French a bande diminue qui cotoye un autre bande) adiminutive of the bend, a quarter of its breadth and one half of the width of thebendlet, generally borne in couples with a bend or charge between them. Twotogether are termed couses, but when one is on each side of the fess or bendthey are usually termed a bend or fess cotised

couchant used of an animal lying down

couch used of a shield suspended by one corner from a belt

counter-changed used of a field divided by a bend or other ordinary in which thecharges in each section are of the colour or metal of the field of the other section

counter-embowed bent with the elbow to the sinister or bent in a reverse

direction

counterflory a tressure fiory in which the alternate fleurs-de-lys are reversed

counter-potent one of the heraldic furs in which the heads of the T -shapedsections are juxtaposed (see potent)
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7/34

counter-vair differs from vair in that the rows of shields are arranged base againstbase and point against point

couped term used when the head or limb of an animal or any other charge is cutoff by an even line

couple-close a diminutive of the chevron and often borne with it as the cotise isborne with the bend; it contains a quarter of the chevron and is always borne inpairs

courant running

coward used of an animal when drawn with its tail between its legs

cramp a piece of iron turned up at each end usually borne in pairs

crampet, crampit, chape or batterolle the steel mounting at the bottom of ascabbard

crenelle (see embattled)

crescent differs from the increscent and the decrescent in having its horns turnedtowards the chief of the shield

crest heraldic device originally borne on top of a helmet, particularly in

tournaments, but latterly used to decorate signet rings, cutlery, plate, crockeryetc. as a mark of ownership by a family. Frequently misused nowadays to meanachievement. or the entire coat of arms rather than just a part of it.

crined used to describe the beard or hair when different in colour from the body

cronel the iron head of a tilting-spearcrozier the staff of a prelate

crusily used when the field or charge is strewn with crosses

cubit arm an arm with the hand attached, couped at the elbow

cuisses armour covering the thighs and knees

dancette (in French donch and dentell) is applied to lines whose teeth orindents are larger and wider than those of a line indented
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8/34

debruised used when an ordinary or subordinary is placed over an animal orcharge (see surmounted)dechauss (see dismembered)

decked used when the feathers of a bird are trimmed at the edges with a smallline of a different colour from the rest of the body

decrescent a half moon, having the horns towards the sinister defamed without atail

degreed or degraded having degrees or steps at the end

dejected anything thrown down, e.g. 'a garb dejected.'

delve or delf one of the nine marks of abatement resembling a square clod ofearth

demi half, the top half being understood when no other is mentioned

despectant used of animals looking downwardsdeveloped unfurled, as in flying colours

dexter the right-hand side of a shield viewed from the position of the personholding it

dimidiated divided in two equal parts

disclosed, expanded or expansed an alternative to displayed used of tame birds

dismembered used of a charge cut into pieces, which are set a small distance apartbut preserve the original form

displayed a bird of prey with its wings expandeddisponed arranged

distilling letting blood

dormant sleeping; differs from couchant in that the head is lowered doubled withthe lining turned up around the edge double-queued having two tails
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9/34

drapeau a flag

drawing-iron an instrument used by wire-drawers

ducal coronet or crest coronet a coronet composed of four leaves of equal height

above the rim

duciper a cap of maintenance

eastern crown the crown worn by Jewish kings

eft (see newt)

eightfoil or huitfoil an eight-petalled flower

elevated used of birds' wings when open and upright

embattled or imbattled used of buildings having battlements

embowed bent or bowed

embrued having drops of blood upon or falling from it

enaluron eight birds placed in the border

endorse a quarter-size diminutive of the pale endorsed (see addorsed)

enfield a monster with a fox's head, an elephant's chest, a horse's mane, an eagle'sforelegs, a greyhound's body and hind legs and a lion's tail

enfiled pierced by the blade of a weapon

Englishman's head used in Welsh blazons to mark feats in the struggle against theEnglish

engould used of a charge whose ends enter an animal's mouth

engrailed a scalloped partition line with the spikes outwards

enhanced an ordinary placed higher than its usual position

enmanche (see manche)

ensigned a charge with another above it
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10/34

entoyre a border charged with eight inanimate charges

enurney a border charged with eight animals

environn surrounded

enwrapped folded round

epaulier armour for the shoulders

equipped used of a horse with all its trappings

eradicated uprooted, as of trees or plants

erased torn from the body, with jagged edges erect upright

ermine (erm.) white fur with black spots

ermines black fur with white spots

erminois gold fur with black spots

escallop-shell a pilgrim's badge

escarbuncle a precious stone, shown as eight sceptres issuing from a centralannulet

escutcheon of pretence the shield on which a man bears his wife's arms if she isan heiress. It is borne in the centre of his own shield and is usually of the sameshape

esquierre a bearing similar to the gyron (see gyronny), but extending across thewhole shield

estoile a star, usually of six wavy points; when an estoile has more than six pointsthey are alternately straight and wavy

evett or lizard a small animal like a crocodile, usually shown vert, used in the armsof some Irish families

expanded or expansed displayed

falchion a broadsword
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13/34

gardant (see guardant)

gardebras the elbow-piece of a suit of armourgarde-visure a vizor

garnished decorated

gaze applied to a beast of the chase when looking full front. See guardant for otheranimals in this posture

gemel (see bars gemel)

genet a small animal like a fox gillyflower, July a blood-red carnation flower

giron (see gyronny)

givers (see guiur)

gliding used of snakes when moving fessways

glory a series of rays issuing from a charge or ordinary

gobony (see compony)

golpe a purple roundle

gonfannon a banner

gordian knot double annulets linked to each other and to one in the centregyronny

gore or gusset two curved lines, one from the sinister chief point the other fromthe base middle point, meeting in an acute angle at the fess point

gorge or gurge a water-bouget

gorged encircled round the throat gorges a whirlpool

gorget armour for the chestgoutte a dropgoutte (see gutte)
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14/34

gradient used of a tortoise when shown walking greave armour for the legs

grice a young wild boar

grieces steps on which crosses may be placed (see calvary)

griffin or gryphon a monster with the upper half an eagle and the lower half a lion

griffin-male a griffin without wings but with large ears

grittic used of a field made up equally of metal and colour

guardant full-faced; (see also gaze)

guidon or a penon flag

guiur, givers or gringole (from guivris, viper) used of charges which end inserpent's heads

gules (gu.) red

gun shot or gun stone a black roundle

gutte or gutty (from the Latin gutta, drop) sprinkled with drops (gouttes)

gutte d'eau sprinkled with watergutte de larmes sprinkled with tears

gutte de poix sprinkled with pitchgutte de sang sprinkled with blood

gutte d'huile or guttee d'olive sprinkled with drops of green oil

gutte d'or sprinkled with goldgutte reversed inverted drops

guze a red roundle

gyronny the division of a shield by cross and saltire in six to twelve even-numbered parts
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15/34

habergeon a short coat of mail without sleeveshabited clothed; the same as vested

halbert a pole-axe

halcyon a kingfisher

half-spear a spear with a short handle

harpy a mythical bird with a woman's face, neck and breasts, and a vulture's bodyand legs harpoon a salmon or eel-spear

hart a stag more than seven years old

harvest-fly a butterfly

hatchment (corruption of achievement) the coat of arms of a dead person, put upon the front of the house then taken and displayed in the local church

hauberk a twisted coat of mail

hauriant or haurient used of a fish when upright, as if putting its head above waterto take in air

hauss or enhanced used of a chevron or fess when higher than its usual position

hawk's jesses leather thongs fastening the bells attached to a hawk's legs

hawk's lure a falconer's decoy of two wings joined with their tips down-wards andfastened to a line and ring

hay-fork (see shake-fork)

heads usually have their posture stated: affronte when in profile, guardant whenfull-faced and regardant when looking backwards; 'head' on its own implies in

profile

healme or casque a helmet

hem break or hackle an instrument for bruising hemp

herison a hedgehog
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16/34

hill or hillock used when only one hill is intended; if more than one the correctterm is hillocks or molehills hilted used of the handle of a sword

hind a female stag, generally blazoned trippant

hirondelle a swallow

honourable ordinaries used of nine basic heraldic charges: chief, fess, pale, bend,bend sinister, bar, cross, saltire and chevron

hooded used of a human face when the head-dress is of a different colour fromthe face; or a bird of prey when it has a hood over its head

hoofed used to describe the colour of the hooves of an animal when differentfrom the colour of the animal itself; cloven-footed animals are said to be unguled

horned used to describe the colour of the horns of an animal when different fromthe colour of the animal itself (see attired)

huit-foil (see eightfoil)

humet or humett used of an ordinary when its tips do not reach the sides of theshield

hunting-horn, cornet or buglehorn a semicircular horn; when the belt is of another

colour it is called stringed of that colour

hurst a group of treeshurt a blue roundle

hurte or hurty seme of hurts

hydra a many-headed dragon

imbattled (see embattled)

imbowed (see embowed)

imbrued or imbued (see embrued)

impalement/impaling two coats of arms side by side on the same shield
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17/34

incensed or incensan used of angry animals with fire issuing from their mouthsand ears

increment or increscent used when a crescent is shown with the horns towardsthe dexter

indented a serrated line, like dancette but with smaller notches Indian or a goatwith bent horns and ears like those of a talbot Assyrian goat

indorsed or endorsed (see addorsed)

inescutcheon a small shield borne as a charge on another, usually indicatingmarriage with an heir or co-heir

inflamed burning in flames

infula a tiara

ink moline (see fer-de-moline)

in lure two wings joined with the tips downward

in pride used of a peacock or turkey cock with its tail spread out

in splendour the sun surrounded by rays inter between interlaced linked together

invected like engrailed but with the spikes pointing inwardsinvexed arched

iron ring a tool used by wire-drawers

issuant rising or coming out of; when an animal is blazoned as such only the upperhalf is shown

jamb or jambe (see gamb)

jellop or jowlop a cock's comb

jessant shooting forth as vegetables spring forth; half the charge only is depictedwhen blazoned jessant

jessant-de-lys a fleur-de-lys in a leopard's mouth
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18/34

jesses the leather thongs that fasten the bells to the legs of a hawk

joinant (see conjoined)

jupon a surcoat

knowed (see nowed)

label or lambel a piece of silk or linen with three pendants, usually used as a markof cadency; by a royal warrant of 24 Feb 1975 labels assigned a sovereignsgrandchild (bar the eldest son of a Prince of Wales) are hereditary

lambrequin (see mantle)

langued used when an animal's tongue is of a different colour from its body

lattice, tirlace, trelle a trellis whose pieces are nailed together at the crossings

laurel an emblem of victory and triumph t laver a cutter or ploughshare

legged or membered used when the legs of an animal or bird are of a differentcolour from its body

leopard French heralds used to call the lion passant guardant a leopard, and theroyal lions of England were at one time so blazoned

leopard's faces a phrase used when no part of the neck appears and the posture isfull-faced; when erased or couped at the neck in profile the word 'head' is usedinstead lever a cormorant leveret a young hare

lined the inside lining ofa piece of clothing when differently coloured from theoutside; also used of chains and ropes fixed to the collars of animals

lioncel or lionel a young lion

lion dragon a monster with the upper half a lion and the lower half a dragon

Lion of England sometimes used for a lion rampant guardant

lion poisson or sea lion a monster resembling a lion in the upper half and a fish inthe lower, with webbed feet

listen the scroll or ribbon on which the motto is inscribed
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19/34

lodged used of beasts of the chase when lying on the ground

lopped or snagged cut so as to show the thickness

lozenge a diamond-shaped charge

lozengy covered with lozenges

lucy or luce a pike (fish)

luna the moon

lure or leure (see hawk's lure)

lymphad or galley a ship with one mast and many oars

maiden's head the head and neck of a woman couped below the breast, the headwreathed with roses and crowned with an eastern crown

mail protective clothing made of small close rings, linked together as if woven andshown as being like fish scales mailed clothed in mail main a hand

maintenance (see cap of maintenance)

manche or maunche a sleeve with long hanging ends

maned used of an animal when the mane is of a different colour from the body

mantelle or chappe used when the two upper angles to the field are cut off bytwo lines issuing from the middle chief point to either side of the shield, formingtwo triangles of a different colour from the field, as if a mantle were thrown overit and the ends drawn back

man-tiger a monster with a lion's body, the head and face of an old man and hornslike an ox

mantle or lambrequin the cloak on which achievements are painted

mantlings ornamented foliage-work for adorning helmets in painting armorialbearings

marined used of any monster with the lower body like a fish marine wolf a seal
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20/34

marshal to arrange charges, ordinaries etc in correct order on a coat of arms

martlet or merion a mythical bird shared like a martin with feathers in place of itslegs, the mark of a fourth sonmascle a hollowed-out lozengemasculy covered with mascles

masoned, masony or masonn used when the field, charge or crest is divided likea wall by lines of a given colour

membered (see legged)

mesl mingled

metal one of the basic types of tincture or colour used in heraldry: white andyellow, for instance, are described not as themselves but as argent and or (silverand gold)

millpick an instrument used by millers and millwrights to dress millstones

millrind (see fer-de-moline)

modilion, cotoose or scroll the foliage ornament of a pillar

mooted or moulted (see eradicated)

morion a steel cap or helmet prevalent particularly in the 16th century, its upperhalf curving downwards, its edges curving upwards

morn or mortn (French 'stillborn') a lion rampant without tongue, teeth orclaws

morse a sea-lion

mort a skull, usually placed on the hatchment of the last of a familymortier a cap of state

mound (French monde, Latin mundus, the world) a globe encircled with ahorizontal band of diamonds and other precious stones, from the upper edge of
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22/34

opinicus a winged monster with a lion's body, an eagle's head and neck and a shorttail like a camel's oppressed (see debruised) or the metal gold, shown as yellow inheraldic illustration

orange a tawny roundle

organ rest (see rest)

orle a diminutive of the bordure but not attached to the outside of the shield;charges so arranged are inorl bordered

over all when a charge or ordinary is placed over other bearings; surmounted,debruised and oppressed are similar terms overt used of bird's wings when open

pale a band placed vertically in the middle of a shield

pall or paile an archiepiscopal vestment of white lamb's wool, formed in heraldryby half a pale issuing from the base meeting in the fess point half a saltire issuingfrom the dexter and sinister chief to form a letter Y

pallet a diminution of the pale

palisado a crown composed of palisade-shaped points

palisse a division of the field in the form of piles reaching from top to bottom,representing the palisades before a fortification

paly divided into an equal number of pieces of alternate colours by perpendicularpartition lines; the number of divisions must be specified: paly of six, of eight, etc

paly-bendy pales cut by diagonal partition lines

palmer's staff (French bourdon) a pilgrim's staff

papilone a field divided into variegated specks like those on a butterfly, but rangedlike the scales of a fish

park pales palings depicted close to each other, with pointed tops

pascuant or pasquant used of animals when grazing
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Paschal or Holy Lamb a lamb passant arg. carrying the banner of St George

passant used of an animal in a walking position

passant guardant used of an animal walking with its head full-face

Passion Cross (see Calvary Cross)

Passant reguardant walking but looking back

passant repassant used when animals are shown walking past each other inopposite directions

Pater Noster or Nostr a cross composed of beads

patonc of a cross whose bars splay outwards in curved fashion

pa(t)t (from French patte, paw) splayed towards the end, as a paw is

pattes paws

pavement depicted like masonry

pavilion an oblong tent with a projecting entrance

pean a fur with gold spots on a black ground

peel a tool used for drawing bread from the oven

pegasus a horse with wings

pelican always shown pecking her breast so that it bleeds; when feeding her youngin this manner she is said to be 'in her piety'

pellet or ogress a black roundle

pelletty or pellette seme of pellets

penner and ink horn a case for holding pens and ink

pennon a pointed or swallow-tailed flag

permoncelor a small streamer or flag pencil
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penny-yard a small coin

per used to show how a shield, ordinary or charge is divided by any of thepartition lines, as per bend, per pale etc

petronel a pistol

pheon the head of a dart or arrow

pierced used when an ordinary or charge is perforated; the shape should bespecified - square, round etc

piety (see pelican)

pile a wedge issuing from the chief and tapering towards the base

pilgrim's scrip a wallet or pouch

plate a silver or white roundle

playing tables backgammon tables

plenitude a full moon

pli used of a bird when its wings are folded

ploy bowed and bent

plummet a plumb line

poing a closed hand

pomme a green roundle (plural pomels)

popinjay a small green parrot with red beak and legs

portant used of a cross that is not erect but placed across the shield as if beingcarried on the shoulder pose (see statant)

pot a steel hat

potent a crutch; also a fur composed of crutch- or T-shaped divisions

potent a line of division formed by crutch-shaped figures
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raping used of animals devouring their preyrays when round the sun they are 16 in number, when round an estoile nine; theyare shown alternately straight and wavy

razed (see erased)

rearing used of a horse when standing on the hind legs with the forelegs raised

rebated when the point of a weapon or part of a cross is broken off

reboundant used of a lion's tail when it forms the letter S with the pointoutwards

rebus used of an achievement whose charges allude to the name of the bearer,

e.g. castles for Castleton

recercelle used of a cross whose ends are slightly forked and curled back

reclinant bending backwards

reflexed or reflected curved or turned round, as the chain from the collar of abeast thrown over its back

regardant looking behind or backwards

reindeer in heraldry, a stag with double attires

remora a snake

removed implies that the ordinary has fallen or become removed from its properposition

rencontre (see cabossed)

renverse when anything is set with its head downwards or contrary to its natural

way or turned upside down

rere mouse a bat

respectant or respecting used of animals when placed face to face

reserved contrary to the usual position
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rests, clarions or clavichords the rest for a lance; by some authorities calledmusical instruments, they bear a resemblance to a fluted bracket retorted used ofsnakes when intertwined reversed turned upside down

riband or ribbon an eighth part of a bend, of which it is a diminutive rising used of

birds when preparing to take flight

rompu or romp broken

rose always represented as full-blown with the petals expanded, seeded in themiddle, and backed by five green barbs or leaves. When a heraldic rose is red itmust be blazoned gu. not ppr.; a rose is termed 'barbed and seeded ppr.' when thebarbs are green and the seeds yellow

roundels/roundles round charges, flat when of metal and spherical when of

colour; they change their names according to their tinctures (see under individualnames)

rousant the same as rising

rustre a lozenge pierced; similar to a mascle but with a round instead of adiamond-shaped hole

sable (sa.) black

sacre or saker a falcon with a grey head, blue feet and legs and a dark brown back;also a small cannon

sagittarius a creature half man and half horse shooting with a bow and arrow

salamander a mythical animal whose natural habitat is fire; it is shown green,surrounded with flames

salient the posture of an animal leaping on its prey

salmon spear the same as a harpoon

saltant used of a squirrel, cat, weasel, rat etc when springing forward

saltire an 'X'-shaped cross

saltirewise in the position of a saltire


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sanglier a wild boar

sanguine blood-coloured (see also murrey)

sanglant bloody, torn off or erased

sarcelle cut through in the middle

satyr a creature with a lion's tail, the ears and horns of an antelope and the face ofa man

scallop a type of shell

scarpe a diminutive of the bend sinister, representing a shoulder-belt or officer'sscarf

scintillant sparkling

scrip (see pilgrim's scrip)

sea dog a creature like a talbot but with a beaver's tail, a scalloped fin down theback from head to tail, scaled body, legs and tail and webbed feet

sea lion a monster with a lion's body and a fish's tail

sea pie a dark brown water fowl with a red head and white neck and wings

seax a scimitar with a semi-circular notch on the back of the blade

seeded used of the seeds of roses, lilies etc when of a different colour from theflower itself

segreant used of the griffin when erect with wings addorsed

sejant or segeant sitting

sejant addorsed used when two animals are sitting back to back

seme used when a field, crest or supporter is scattered with minor changes, e.g.crescents, mullets or fleurs-de-lys; (see also powdered)

seraph's head a child's head between three pairs of wings. two in chief, two in fessand two in base
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sexfoil a grass or flower with six leaves, in form like a cinquefoil

shack-bolt a fetter put on the wrists or ankles of prisoners shafted used to denotethat a spear-head has a handle

shake fork like the pall. but not touching the edges of the shield, and with a pointat each end like the pile

shambrough a ship

shapewined in a curved line

sheaf (see garb)

side a portion of the shield cut off by a perpendicular line single the tail of a deer

sinister the left side of the shield (see dexter)

sinister chief the left side of the chief

sinople green

siren or syren a mermaid

skean a short sword or dagger

slashed sleeves of garments cut open lengthways, the gashes filled in with puffingof another colour

slay, slea or reed an instrument used by weavers

slipped having a stalk, shown as torn from the original stem

spancelled or fettered used of a horse that has the fore and hind legs by fetterfettered locks fastened to the end of a stick

spear-head imbrued with the point bloody

speed at used of a stag when running

sperver a tent

sphinx a monster with a lion's body, the wings of an eagle and the head andbreasts of a woman
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spindle (see fusil)

splendour a term for the sun when represented with a human face and emittingrays

sruttle a winnowing fan or basket starved (see stripped of leaves, etc estoile)

statant standing

staves walking sticks used by pilgrims

subordinaries class of charges next in importance to the honourable ordinaries(qv), comprising the canton, inescutcheon, gyron, orle, tressure, lozenge, mascle,rustre, fusil, fret, flanch, bordure, pile, label, billet and flasque

subverted reversed, turned upside down

sufflue rest or clarion

super charge one figure charged or borne upon another

supporters figures placed on either side of a shield

surcoat a loose, light coat worn over armour

surgeant rising

surmounted where one charge is placed over another

surtout or sur-le-tout used of a small shield placed on the centre of a larger one

syke (see fountain)

tabard the surcoat embroidered with the Sovereign's arms and worn by heralds

talbot a hunting dog with thick snout and hanging ears

targant, torgant or torqued bending and rebending like the letter 'S'

target a round buckler or shield

tasces or tasses armour which covers the thighs

tau a cross with no upper vertical arm
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urvant or urved turned or bowed upwards

vair or vaire a fur shown as rows of small shields, alternately reversed

vaIlary crown a gold circlet surmounted by flat, pointed strips

vambrace armour for the arm

vambraced used when the arm is completely covered with armour

vamplate a gauntlet

vamplet a broad pan of steel attached to the lower part of a tilting-spear toprotect the hand

vannet the escallop when shown without the ears

verble a hunting-horn edged with metal of a different colour

verdoy a border charged with eight flowers, leaves or fruit, e.g. 'a border gu.,verdoy of oak leaves or'vert green

verted or reverted same as flexed or reflexed

verules or ferrals several rings, one within another, with the same centre

vested clothed

vigilant used of a cat when watching for prey

vol two wings of an eagle displayed and conjoinedvolant flying

voided used of a charge with the middle cut out so that the field is seen through it

voiders a diminutive of flanchvorant or engoulant devouringvulned wounded so that blood appears


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heraldric terms

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