Heraldry
This page dispels a few common myths about heraldry and contains a dictionary of the most common heraldic terms.
Myths of Heraldry
One of the most commonly misunderstood facts about coats of arms is that they belong to a particular family or family name. This is incorrect. There is no such thing as the "Smith coat of arms" or the "Franklin coat of arms." Arms belong to individuals.
The word "heraldry" is closely related to the word "hereditary." Coats of arms are hereditary. Arms only change hands when an offspring inherits a coat of arms from a parent. Only one offspring inherits; if there are other offspring they may inherit a modified coat of arms or they may inherit none.
No one can simply adopt a coat of arms for themselves. Arms are granted by government agencies or agencies of the crown. In the United Kingdom, an organization called the College of Arms is responsible for granting coats of arms and regulating their use.
In the United States there are countless individuals, organizations, towns, villages, cities, corporations, clubs, societies and so on that have adopted a design resembling a coat of arms. These should not be confused with true heraldry since they were not bestowed by a grant of arms and they have no hereditary function.
Another common misunderstanding about heraldry is the notion that, in a coat of arms, a lion means pride, a rose means love, the color purple means royalty, or other such nonsense. Coats of arms do not follow any standardized symbolism of this kind. While it is true that the objects and colors on a coat of arms may, and in most cases do, carry symbolic meaning, it should be understood that such meaning is specific to the bearer and cannot be discerned merely by looking at the design.
One last myth related to heraldry is the common mistake that the word "crest" refers to a coat of arms. In fact the crest is only a small part of a coat of arms: it is the object that sits atop the helm (helmet). A coat of arms should never be called a crest.
Definitions of Terms and Terminology Used in Concise Descriptions of Coats of Arms
(What I find most fascinating about heraldry is the astonishingly beautiful and concise language that exists to describe a coat of arms. For example, only four words are needed to describe a black shield with a gold lion on it, with the lion standing erect on one leg, in profile, facing the viewer's left, thrusting its other three legs forward and holding its tail in the air. The four words are: "Sable, a lion or.")
A
acorned / englantee. said of a tree or branch having acorns
addorsed. said of two or more animals or objects back to back
affronte. fully facing the viewer. compare combatant
annulet. ringlet
antelope. as a heraldic beast, has a hooked nose
appaumee. said of a hand opened to show the palm
argent. silver; one of the two metals (the other being gold); equivalent in heraldry to white or gray; in crosshatching represented as plain white
armed. 1) barbed. 2) said of a beast having claws of a different tincture than the body
attired. said of a stag having antlers of a different tincture
azure. blue; one of the five main colors of heraldry; in crosshatching represented by horizontal lines
B
badge. in heraldry, a charge used by the bearer independent of the shield. For example, the royal family of England uses a portcullis as a badge.
barbed and seeded proper. said of a rose with sepals green and seeds gold
barbed. having claws (said of a beast) or a beard (said of an antelope) or point (said of an arrow) or sepals (said of a plant) of a different tincture than the body
barry. said of a shield divided per fess at least four times
bars gemeles / bars gemeled / bars gemelled. bars depicted in groups of two, each group spaced apart from the others
beaked and membered. said of a bird with beak and legs of a different tincture than the body
beast. any four-legged animal, or any fabulous beast composed of parts of various creatures. Beasts are shown in eight basic positions: rampant (rearing), salient (leaping), passant (walking), statant (standing), sejant erect (begging as a dog begs), sejant (seated), couchant (lying down awake), and dormant (lying down asleep); of which rampant and passant are the most common
bend. stripe from chief dexter to base sinister. Diminutives: bend > bendlet > baton > cotise (bend cotised)
bend sinister. a stripe from chief sinister to base dexter
bendlet. a narrow bend, usually seen in twos or threes
bezant. gold roundel
billet. plain rectangular ornament, tall and narrow, representing a ticket or letter correspondence)
blazon. a precise description of a coat of arms, given in heraldic terminology and phrased according to the customs of heraldry
bolt. the arrow of a crossbow, having an arrowhead not much wider than the shaft, and rounded feathers
book. unless otherwise blazoned, shown with a closed cover having a lozenge between four roundels and a strap holding it closed
bordure. border of the shield; in Scot heraldry it differentiates a cadet from a family chief
budded and stalked. said of a flower with a budded stalk
C
caboshed. said of a head affronte with no neck or other portion of the body showing
cadency marks. additions to a shield showing the bearer's order of birth or position in the family. These are traditional marks but others are sometimes used: 1) first son: label. 2) second son: crescent. 3) third son: mullet. 4) fourth son: martlet. 5) fifth son: roundel. 6) sixth son: fleur-de-lys. 7) seventh son: rose. 8) eighth son: cross moline. 9) ninth son: double quatrefoil
caltrap / calthrop. heraldic representation of a weapon consisting of four spikes in a tetrahedron; scattered on a battlefield to stop horses
canting coat. nickname for a coat of arms depicting a pun on the bearer's name. These were more far common than one would expect.
chained. having a loose chain attached to the collar
charges. in heraldry, a collective term for all objects that appear on a shield (such as birds, beasts, and ordinaries); or objects that appear upon other objects
chequey. field divided paly and barry, as a checker board
chess rook / rook. in heraldry, a stylized chessman having a split, lily-like top
chevron. a stripe issuing from the base dexter and sinister points resembling an inverted V. Diminutive: chevronel
chief. top third of the shield; its diminutive is the fillet
cinquefoil. stylized object with five lobes
clarion. heraldic version of a wind organ, vaguely resembling panpipes with a curved bottom piece
close. said of a bird statant, with wings folded unless otherwise blazened
cockatrice. beast having the head and body of a chicken, membrane wings, and the tail of an adder
color. general term for all tinctures other than metals and furs: in heraldry the five basic colors are blue, red, black, green, and purple
combatant. said of two beasts rampant face to face
compartment. the ground, usually a mound of grass, on which the shield and supporters stand; depiction of a compartment is optional and not part of the blazon
conjoined in lure. said of wings elevated and addorsed
coronet. 1) any stylized or decorative crown; not a symbol of royalty. 2) the crown of a peer. Some countries have a specific design for each rank of nobility; these may be displayed only on the coats of arms of persons bearing that rank
cotise. very narrow stripe seen in conjunction with a bend, fess or pale. compare fimbriation
cotised. said of a bend, fess or pale accompanied on either side with an additional, much narrower stripe of the same tincture, set apart from the main stripe by a short distance, with background tincture visible between the stripes. compare fimbriated
couchant. said of a beast crouching with its belly on the ground, its head up, and its tail between its legs, the end of the tail erect. compare dormant
countercharged. said of a field divided through the charges, with tinctures reversed on each side of the division
counter vair / vair undy. a variation of vair in which the shapes are stacked and the tinctures alternate from top to bottom. compare vair in pale
couped. 1) said of an object, usually part of a beast, severed straight off. compare erased. 2) said of an ordinary which ends before the edges of the shield with its arms cleanly cut off
courant. said of a pegasus, wings addorsed, in jumping position, with tail erect or flowing behind
crenellations / crenellated. having a toothed edge; usually refers to the upper edge of a fortress with a notched battlement
crescent. 1) shown with points up unless otherwise blazoned. 2) cadency mark for second son
crest. object above the helm; the second most essential part of a coat of arms after the shield
cross botonny / cross botonee. a cross with arms ending in a cluster of three roundels. compare cross patonce
cross crosslet. cross with each end crossed
cross crosslet fitchy. cross having crossbars on its upper three arms and a pointed bottom arm
cross floretty / cross fleurettee / cross fleurette / cross floretee / cross fleurty / cross fleur-de-lisee. cross with arms ending in fleurs-de-lys (stylized irises)
cross flory / cross fleury. cross with arms ending in lilies
cross formy / cross formee. another name for cross paty
cross latin. basic cross; cross having three arms of equal length and a longer bottom arm, none of which extend to the edges of the shield
cross lorraine / cross of lorraine. cross having two crossbars, the higher one being shorter and above the center, the lower one being longer and below the center. compare cross patriarchal
cross maltese / cross of eight points. cross having arms that flare into two sharp points at the ends
cross moline / millrind cross. cross having arms that flair at the ends into two curled points; one of the most common cross forms in heraldry. 2) cadency mark for eighth son
cross papal. cross having three crossbars, the top being shortest and the bottom being longest
cross patonce. cross having arms ending in three splayed points. compare cross botonny
cross patriarchal / cross archiepiscopal. cross having two crossbars, the higher one being shorter and above the center, the lower one being longer and crossing at the center. compare cross lorraine
cross paty / cross pate / cross patee / cross pattee / cross patte / cross formy / cross formee. cross formed out of a square with slit or notched corners
cross potent. cross with arms ending in potents (T-shaped pieces)
cross recercelee. a cross having the ends of its arms split and curled back in imitation of ram’s horns. compare moline
cross tau / saint anthony cross. cross with no top piece above the crossbar, thus shaped like a T
crosshatching. a system of representing tinctures in black and white with lines and dots
crosslet. the ends having cross pieces
crussily. scattered with many small crosses
D
dancetty / dancettee / dancette. said of a line with large zig-zags having near right angles; usually a fess dancetty is shown with three indentations. compare indented, rayonne
decrescent / waning moon. crescent depicted with points sinister
dexter. right side of the shield as seen by the wearer, thus being the left-hand side of the shield in heraldry. The dexter has always been the important side, thus beasts face the dexter and bends issue from the dexter chief unless blazoned sinister.
diaper / diapering. decorative background pattern consisting of small, regular ornaments; used only as an artistic embellishment and never part of a blazon
diminutive. small; made smaller or reduced in width
displayed. said of a bird affronte with wings elevated; the most common position of heraldic birds
dolphin. heraldic fish having large fins and an obvious line along its side
dormant. said of a beast crouching with its belly on the ground, its head lowered on its forelegs and its tail grounded. compare couchant
double cotised. said of a bend, fess or pale accompanied on each side by two additional, much narrower stripes of the same tincture.
double headed. said of a bird with two heads, usually looking away from each other
double quatrefoil. 1) stylized object with eight lobes 2) cadency mark for ninth son
dovetailed. said of a line having interlocking wedge-like shapes
dragon. fabulous beast having reptilian scales, arrowhead tongue, membrane wings, and four legs with talons of a bird of prey
E
elevated and addorsed / conjoined in lure. said of a bird rising with wings that are up and back to back
embattled. said of a line consisting of the shape of battlements on a castle (interlocked squares)
emblazon. to draw or paint a coat of arms, usually from a blazon
endorsed. said of a pale between two pallets
enfield. fabulous beast having the head and hindquarters of a talbot and the forelegs of an eagle
engrailed. said of a line consisting of connected bumps; the opposite of invected (per pale engrailed has the points dexter; a fess engrailed has the points on the outside; a chief engrailed has the points toward the top)
enhanced. raised above the usual position
erased. said of an object violently severed, depicted with a jagged edge usually having three wavy points. compare couped
erect. said of a beast apparently rampant but having no hind legs, such as a wyvern or seahorse, or depicted without hind legs
ermine. a fur having black tails on white
ermines. a variation on ermine, being a fur having white tails on black
erminites. a variation on ermine, being white fur having black tails edged with a single red hair on each side
escarbuncle / carbuncle. an eight-rayed ornament representing a stone carbuncle
escutcheon / scutcheon. 1) shield. 2) shield-like area on which is depicted a coat of arms
estoile / estoil. heraldic star having six wavy points, or occasionally eight wavy points. compare mullet
F
falchion. sword with a curved, wide blade
falcon. heraldic bird of prey depicted as a feathery eagle with no head peak
fer-de-moline / fer-de-moulin / millrind / mill rind / mill rynd. object used at the center of the axle of the grinding mechanism of a gristmill; often seen as an heraldic charge
fess / fesse. horizontal stripe across the center of the shield. Diminutives: fess > bar > barrulet > cotise (fess cotised)
field. section having a single background tincture; in an undivided shield, the entire shield is the field; in a divided shield, each section is a field and has a different background tincture
fimbriated. said of a charge bordered on the same plane by a narrow stripe of a different tincture. compare cotised
fitchy / fitche / fitchee. said of a cross having a bottom arm that tapers to a point
flanch / flanche / flaunch / flaunche. one of a pair of curved segments encroaching on the edges of the field from either side
flanched. having a pair of curved segments on either side of the shield of a different tincture than the field
fletches. feathers of an arrow
fleur-de-lise. ornamented with one or more fleurs-de-lys
fleur-de-lys / fleur-de-lis. stylized iris flower. 2) cadency mark for sixth son. 3) emblem of the royalty of France
fleury-counter-fleury / flory and counter flory. having equally-spaced fleurs-de-lys with points alternating in direction
forcene. said of a horse rearing (rampant or salient)
foul anchor. anchor having a section of rope or chain entwined around its shank; a common heraldic charge
fountain. a roundel having six wavy horizontal stripes alternating silver and blue
fourche-de-guerre / pitch-fork. three-pronged weapon having a long shaft
fourchette / fourchee / fourche. forked; divided near the end into two parts
fret. a mascle interlaced with a bendlet and a bendlet sinister
fretty. pattern consisting of diagonal stripes in bend and bend sinister, interlaced as if woven together
fur. collective term for all types of ermine and vair
fusil. an extremely tall and thin lozenge
fusilly. 1) divided by diagonal lines into a regular diamond-like pattern of alternating tinctures. 2) said of a charge made up of a row of fusils
fylfot cross. the heraldic term for a swastika. (In Native American art is also called a whirling log.)
G
garb. stack of grain tied into a bundle, depicted with the stalks upright
gorged. having the neck encircled by a crown or coronet
goutty. semy of droplets
greek cross. plain cross having all arms of equal length
gryphon / griffin. fabulous beast having front part and fore-legs of an eagle, feathered wings, hind parts of a lion, and pointed ears
guardant. said of a creature with its head turned front to face the viewer
gules. red; one of the five main colors; in crosshatching represented with vertical lines
gurges. heraldic representation of a whirlpool, being a spiral having narrow bands alternating white and blue
gyron / giron. one section of a gyronny field; the term usually refers to the section in the dexter chief having part of its edge along the dexter
gyronny. divided into eight sections; that is, quartered and per saltire
H
helm. helmet resting on the top edge of the shield; the crest rests atop the helm and the mantling flows from the back of the helm.
I
increscent / waxing moon. crescent having its points dexter
indented. said of a line having a regular series of medium zig-zags. compare rayonne, dancetty
inescutcheon. small shield depicted as a charge upon a shield
invected / scalloped. said of a line consisting of connected bumps; the opposite of engrailed (per pale invected has the points sinister; a fess invected has the points on the inside; a chief invected has the points downward)
issuant. emerging from
J
jambe / gamb / gambe. the fore-leg of a beast, disembodied and depicted as a charge
Jerusalem cross. cross potent with a small greek cross occupying each space between the four arms, but not touching or interlocking with the center cross
jessed. said of a bird having a strap attached to its leg
L
label. 1) charge consisting of a bar occupying the chief, above which a sliver of the field is visible, and from which three (sometimes five) truncated stripes hang, the whole resembling three capital Ts (TTT). Diminutive: file. 2) cadency mark for first son
leopard. heraldic term for a lion passant or statant
lion. the most common heraldic beast. In English heraldry a lion is assumed to be rampant unless otherwise blazoned.
lioncel. 1) young lion. 2) one of a group of three or more lions on a single shield
lozenge. a diamond shape having near right angles
lozengy. divided by diagonal lines into a regular pattern of lozenges of alternating tinctures.
lymphad. heraldic depiction of an old sailing vessel with one mast and one sail
M
mantling. stylized cloth draped from the back of the helm, usually depicted as being of the main tincture of the shield backed by the second tincture, flowing around the entire shield in a decorative manner. The size and shape of the mantling are left to the artist and are not blazoned
martlet. 1) small heraldic bird having feathers instead of feet. 2) cadency mark for fourth son
mascle. a lozenge voided
mascled. covered by a regular pattern of mascles
maunch / maunche / manche. stylized lady's sleeve with a long, flowing length of cloth at the wrist opening; based on medieval garments with detachable sleeves
metal. general term for the two main tinctures that are not classified as colors; they are gold (yellow, or) and silver (gray, white, argent)
mullet / molet. 1) five-pointed regular star. compare estoil. 2) cadency mark for third son
N
naiant. swimming; said of a fish or sea beast in fess
nebuly / nebule. cloud-like; said of a line consisting of interlocked rounded shapes resembling jigsaw-puzzle notches
nowed / nodeled / knotted. said of a rope or a beast's tail tangled in a knot
nowy. said of a line or charge with one bulging lump at the center point
O
or. gold; one of the two metals (the other being silver). In heraldry gold and yellow are equivalent although in rare cases gold is depicted with an orange hue. In crosshatching gold is represented by a field of tiny dots
ordinary. general term for one of the ten basic charges consisting of regular divisions of the shield, being pale, fess, bend, bend sinister, cross, saltire, chief, pile, chevron, and pall. Note: heraldry authorities disagree as to what is an ordinary and what is not, and some assert that the term has no place in heraldry, so this list gives only one possible definition
orle. a bordure set inside the edges of the shield; that is, a shield shape, voided, following the curve of the shield edge but not actually in contact with the edge
P
pale. a vertical stripe down the center of the shield. Diminutives: pale > pallet > endorse (pale endorsed)
pall / pairle. a Y-shaped figure extending to the edges of the shield, representing the pallium (Y-shaped garment worn on the front by a bishop). Diminutive: shakefork
pallet. diminutive of the pale, usually depicted in twos and threes
paly. regular division of the shield into vertical stripes of alternating tinctures
paschal lamb / agnus die. a lamb passant guardant, with halo, holding a staff crosslet, the banner of Saint George (argent a cross gules) on the staff; the whole being a symbol of Christ
passant. said of a beast in a walking position, having the right fore-leg raised, the other legs grounded, and the tail erect
pegasus. winged horse
pelican in her piety. pelican feeding her young from blood from her own breast
per bend. a division of the shield along the bend
per bend sinister. division of the shield along the bend sinister
per fess. division of the shield by a horizontal line across the center
per pale. division of the shield along a centered vertical line
per saltire. division along the lines of a saltire
pheon. a stylized harpoon-like barbed arrowhead, the barbs being on the insides of the flukes
pierced. said of an object having a circular hole through the center in which the tincture of the field shows through
pile. a triangular wedge with the point down and the top edge attached to the upper edge of the shield. Diminutive: passion nail
popinjay. heraldic parrot
portcullis. the heavy barred door of a fortress or castle archway, depicted with a chain pendant from each upper corner
potent. 1) said of a line consisting of interlocking potents (T-shapes). 2) a variation of vair in which the shapes are potent (T-shaped) and interlocked, in silver and blue unless otherwise blazoned. 3) see cross potent
proper. said of a charge depicted in its natural tinctures
purpure. purple; one of the five main colors; in crosshatching represented with lines in bend sinister
Q
quarterly quartered. quarterly, with one or more sections quartered again
quarterly. divided into quarters along the lines of a cross. A shield quarterly is numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, left to right and top to bottom. A shield quarterly of two tinctures is blazoned 1 and 2.
quatrefoil. an object with four lobes
R
raguly. said of a line with leaning embattled shapes, in imitation of a branch from which smaller branches have been couped
rampant. said of a beast with its dexter hind leg raised; its fore-legs, spine and tail erect; facing the dexter unless otherwise blazoned. compare salient
rayonne / rayonnant. said of a line having a sharp zig-zag of many points. compare indented, dancette
regardant. said of a creature looking backward over its shoulder
respectant. said of two or more animals or objects facing each other
rose. 1) a stylized flower having five petals, seeds and barbs. 2) cadency mark for seventh son
rose, Lancaster. red rose
rose, Tudor. rose within a rose, usually the outside rose is red and the inside is white
rose, York. white rose
roundel. 1) charge consisting of a plain circle; may be depicted as a disc or as part of a sphere. 2) cadency mark for fifth son
S
sable. black; one of the five main colors; in crosshatching represented by overlapping horizontal and vertical lines or by a solidly filled ground
salient / leaping. as rampant but leaning forward and having both hind legs on the ground. compare rampant. 2) a horse salient is blazoned as forcene. 3) a pegasus salient is blazoned as courant
saltire / saltier. a charge composed of a pair of stripes across the shield in the shape of an X
sanglant. said of a dismembered body part bloody where torn off
sanguine / murrey / bloody. dark red; in crosshatching represented with overlapping lines in saltire
savage. a man with loin leaves and a cudgel
sea horse / hippocampus. fabulous beast having the top half and fore-legs of a horse, the fore-legs ending in fins, a fin mane, and the back end of a fish
seax / sax. 1) a broad, curved sword; the traditional pirate's cutlass. 2) knife-like chopping tool
sejant. said of a creature seated, its fore-legs grounded, and its tail between its hind legs and erect
sejant erect. said of a creature poised as if begging, sitting on its hind legs with its fore-legs raised, its spine erect, and its tail between its hind legs and erect
semee-de-lys. semy of fleurs-de-lys
semy / seme / semee / sown / dotted / powdered. having many small identical charges strewn about the field
shakefork. diminutive of a pall, composed of a pall couped, having its arms ending in points
sinister. left side of the shield as seen by the wearer, thus being the right-hand side of the shield in heraldry
standard. a type of heraldic flag of much longer length than modern flags, with a tapering, slit end, and having three sections: the first, nearest the pole, having the individual's arms, the second his badge, and the third his crest. Many remaining examples show the three sections separated by the individual's motto or war cry written on narrow white bands.
star. 1) estoile. 2) mullet
statant. standing; said of a beast with all paws on the ground, having its tail over its back. 2) a lion statant is sometime blazoned as a leopard. 3) a bird statant is blazoned as close.
stock. severed tree trunk or stump
sub-ordinary. general term for any of the common charges that consist of regular or geometric shapes that are not simple divisions of the shield; they include: bordure, orle, flanches, label, tressure, lozenge, mascle, fret, roundel, billet, gyron. Note: heraldry authorities disagree as to what is a sub-ordinary and what is not, and some assert that the term has no place in heraldry
sun in glory / sun in splendor. said of a sun having numerous long, wavy rays, usually alternating straight and wavy, often having a face on the center disc
supporters. creatures, usually beasts, standing on either side of the shield, holding it
surcoat / jupon. long fabric garment worn by knight on which his coat of arms is usually painted
T
tail. decorative part of ermine; there are many stylized forms of ermine tails and the artists is left to choose
talbot. heraldic dog representing a bloodhound, depicted with floppy ears, often couped at the neck
tenne / tenney / tenny. the color orange; rarely used as an heraldic tincture; in crosshatching represented with vertical lines crossed with lines in bend sinister
tierce. a division of the shield leaving a section occupying one third of the shield; e.g., the dexter tierce occupies the dexter third
tincture. in heraldry the collective name for all colors, metals, and furs
torse / crest wreath. twist of cloth laid on the top of the helm around the base of the crest, usually depicted as having six twists of a color alternating with a metal, of the same tinctures as the mantling
trefoil. object with three lobes
tressure. two orles, one within the other
triskelion. figure composed of three curved branches or running legs radiating out from a center point
tyger / tiger. in heraldry, a fabulous beast having a dragon’s head on a lion’s body, thus no stripes
U
undy / undee / unde / ondy / onde. said of a line having a wavy character
unguled. said of a hooved beast having hooves of a different tincture
unicorn. fabulous beast having the head and body of a horse, hind legs of a stag, tail of a lion and a single, narrow, cone-like horn issuing from its forehead; sometimes depicted as a single-horned horse or as a single-horned goat
V
vair. a fur representing the backs and bellies of squirrels joined in rows, usually depicted as stylized interlocking silver and blue shapes
vair ancient. a variation of vair depicted as barry with alternate wavy lines of silver and blue
vair in pale / vair-en-point. a variation of vair in which the shapes are stacked and the tinctures occur in vertical rows. compare counter vair
vair undy. counter vair
vaire / vairy. a variation of vair having tinctures other than silver and blue, as blazoned
vert. green; one of the five main colors; in crosshatching represented with bendy lines
voided. said of an object having only edges, the inside having been cut away and removed along the lines of the edges, with the field tincture showing through
volant. 1) said of a bird flying (gliding) in a horizontal position. 2) said of a top-down view of an insect
W
water budget / water bourget / water bouget. device used to carry water; stylized in heraldry as two bags on a yoke
wyvern / wivern / wiver. a dragon-like fabulous beast having two legs (no fore-legs), membrane wings, and a long tail tipped with an arrowhead
Y
yale / ealye / gall. fabulous beast having the body of an antelope with the cheek horns of a boar, and having the horns on its head pointing in opposite directions
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