signifies in Heraldry that the tongue of a bird or beast is of a
different tincture from the body.
LION. The strength, courage, and majestic deportment of this noble
animal, has gained him the regal titles of monarch of the forest and
king of beasts. Ancient heralds selected the figure of the lion as
symbolic of command, strength, power, courage, and other qualities
attributed to that animal. Armorists have introduced lions to denote
the attributes of majesty, might, and clemency, subduing those that
resist, and sparing those that yield to authority. The lion has been
depicted in every attitude which could by any means be construed into
a compliment to the person the sovereign delighted to honour, by
raising him to a rank that enabled him to bear arms. Was it a warrior,
who, though victorious, was still engaged in struggling with the foes
of his sovereign, the lion rampant was considered a proper emblem of
the hero. The warrior having overcome his enemies in the field, yet
retaining his military command for the safety and honour of his
country, was typified by the lion statant gardant. We might easily
find examples to show the propriety of the emblem for all the
positions of the lion introduced as charges in coats of arms; but the
two given will be sufficient: the rest may easily be imagined by the
intelligent reader. The following are the most usual positions in
which the lion appears in shields of arms:--
[Illustration: Rampant]
Rampant.
[Illustration: Rampant gardant]
Rampant gardant.
[Illustration: Rampant regardant]
Rampant regardant.
[Illustration: Salient]
Salient.
[Illustration: Statant gardant]
Statant gardant.
[Illustration: Passant]
Passant.
When the lions' heads are placed in the same position as in rampant
gardant and regardant, they are then said to be passant gardant and
regardant.
[Illustration: Sejant]
Sejant.
[Illustration: Couchant]
Couchant.
[Illustration: Dormant]
Dormant.
Thus far the lion is drawn in natural positions; these are considered
the most honourable, as they have never been properly inserted in arms
but for persons of high authority and pre-eminent courage and virtue.
There are a great many deviations from the above, which are marks of
great honour. It is considered that a lion cannot bear a rival in the
field; therefore if two or more lions are introduced they are supposed
to be lion's whelps, or in Heraldic terms lioncels.
[Illustration: Two lioncels addorsed]
Two lioncels addorsed or back to back.
[Illustration: Lioncels combatant]
Lioncels combatant.
[Illustration: Lion rampant double-headed]
Lion rampant double-headed.
[Illustration: An incorporated lion gardant in the fess point]
An incorporated lion gardant in the fess point.
There are a great number of ways of introducing this charge: many
of them will be seen under the proper words that describe their
condition: such as the word debruised, where the lion is confined by
the fess passing over it; demi-lion or half lion; but the examples
here given will be sufficient to explain their positions, active or
passive. If no mention is made of the tincture it is always supposed
that they are proper, that is, to be coloured like nature: they are
introduced in arms of every metal and tincture known in Heraldry.
[Illustration: Lodged]
LODGED. A stag sitting on the ground with its head erect, is said to
be lodged.
LOZENGE. An angular figure, known as diamond-shaped, to distinguish it
from the square.
[Illustration: Lozenge]
EX. Or, a lozenge vert.
LOZENGY. Covered with lozenges.
[Illustration: Lozengy]
EX. Lozengy gules and argent.
LUNA. The moon: it formerly signified argent in emblazoning the arms
of sovereigns.
MANCHE. An ancient sleeve with long hangings to it.
[Illustration: Manche]
EX. Argent, a manche, gules.
MANED. When the manes of horses, unicorns, &c. are of a different
tincture from their bodies they are said to be maned.
MANTLE. A long robe or cloak of state.
MANTLING. The flowing drapery forming the scroll-work displayed on
either side of the helmet from beneath the wreath, representing the
ancient covering of the helmet, used to protect it from stains or
rust. When the mantling incloses the escutcheon, supporters, &c.,
it represents the robe of honour worn by the party whose shield it
envelopes. This mantle is always described as doubled, that is, lined
throughout with one of the furs, as ermine, pean, vary. For examples
of mantling, see the arms and crests of England, Scotland, and
Ireland.
MARQUIS. The second order of nobility in England, next in rank to a
duke.
MARSHAL. A title of honour. See EARL MARSHAL.
TO MARSHAL. To place persons in due order, according to their
precedency, in public processions, such as coronations, proclamations
of peace or war, funerals, &c.
MARSHALLING ARMS. The disposing of several coats of arms belonging
to distinct families in the same escutcheon, together with their
ornaments, parts, and appurtenances.
MARTLET. An imaginary bird said to be without legs; it is used both as
a charge and a difference.
[Illustration: Martlet]
EX. Argent, a martlet, gules.
MASCLE. An open lozenge-shaped figure, one of the subordinate
ordinaries.
[Illustration: Mascle]
EX. Argent, a mascle, vert.
MEMBERED. A term used to express the beak and legs of a bird when they
are of a different tincture from its body.
MERCURY. The name of the planet, used by ancient heralds to describe
purple in blazoning the arms of sovereigns.
METAL. The two metals used in Heraldry are gold and silver, called or
and argent. It is against the rules of Heraldry to place metal upon
metal, or colour upon colour, unless for special reasons. Therefore,
if the field be of any colour, the bearing must be of one of the
metals, and on the contrary, if the field be of one of the metals, the
bearing must be of some colour.
MILLRIND. The iron placed in the centre of a grindstone to protect
the hole in the centre from the action of the axis; it is a charge
frequently borne on escutcheons of persons connected with agriculture.
[Illustration: Millrind]
EX. Argent, a millrind, gules.
[Illustration: MITRE.]
MITRE. A sacerdotal ornament for the head, worn by Roman Catholic
archbishops and bishops on solemn occasions. Certain English abbots
formerly wore mitres, and they are frequently found as charges in the
arms of abbeys and monasteries. The annexed is a representation of the
mitre of the archbishops and bishops of the church of England, borne
as a mark of distinction over the arms of the see, or over their
paternal achievements, when impaled with the arms of their see. The
prelates of the Protestant Church of England never wear mitres.
[Illustration: MITRE.]
The Bishops of Durham were formerly princes of the Palatinate of
Durham, and wore a ducal coronet surmounted by a mitre. They still
retain the coronet and mitre as an heraldic distinction, borne over
the arms of the bishopric.
MORION. A steel cap or helmet formerly worn by foot soldiers below the
rank of gentlemen.
MOTTO. A word or short sentence inserted in a scroll, which is
generally placed beneath the escutcheon; in some instances it is
placed above the crest. The motto frequently alludes to the name of
the bearer of the arms, as the motto of the Right Honourable Lord
Fortescue--FORTE SCUTUM SALUS DUCUM, a strong shield is the safety of
commanders. Sometimes the motto is the watchword or war-cry in the
battle where the original bearer won the honours that are retained
by his descendants. Generally the motto is founded upon the piety,
loyalty, valour, fortitude, &c. of the persons to whom arms were
granted.
[Illustration: MOUND.]
MOUND. A globe encircled with a band and surmounted with a cross; it
is an ensign of royalty, signifying dominion.
MULLET. From the French word _molette_, the rowel of a spur: it is
generally drawn with five points, as in the annexed example: when more
points are used they are named.
[Illustration: Mullet]
EX. Azure, a mullet or.
MURAILE. A French term for walled.
MURREY. A word used by ancient armorists instead of sanguine.
NAIANT. A French term for swimming. This term is used in Heraldry when
a fish is drawn in an horizontal position.
[Illustration: Naiant]
EX. Argent, a salmon proper, naiant, its head towards the sinister
side of the shield.
NAISSANT. A French word signifying coming out. It is used when a lion
or any other animal appears to be rising out of the centre of an
ordinary.
[Illustration: Naissant]
EX. Or, from the midst of a fess, gules, a lion rampant naissant.
NEBULÉ, or NEBULY. A French word, signifying cloudy, represented by a
curved line, thus--
[Illustration: NEBULÉ, or NEBULY.]
NOBILITY. Under this denomination are comprehended--dukes, marquises,
earls, viscounts, and barons only. Archbishops and bishops are
included in the rank of clergy.
NOMBRIL POINT. That part of the shield below the fess point. See page
6. letter F. [CHAP. II.]
NORROY. The name of one of the Kings-at-Arms. See King-at-Arms.
NOWED. This word signifies tied or knotted, and is applied to
serpents, wiverns, or any animals whose tails are twisted and enfolded
like a knot.
[Illustration: EX. Argent, a serpent nowed proper.]
OGRESSES. Black roundlets.
OR. The French word for gold. This tincture is denoted in engraving by
small points.
[Illustration: EX. Or, a bend gules.]
ORANGES. Roundlets tinctured tenne.
ORDINARY. A term used to denote the simple forms which were first used
as heraldic distinctions, and therefore called honourable ordinaries,
as conferring more honour than later inventions. They are the chief,
pale, bend, bend sinister, fess, bar, chevron, cross, and cross
saltier. There are thirteen subordinate ordinaries. The form, size,
and place that the honourable and subordinate ordinaries occupy in an
achievement are all described in the Manual, and in this Dictionary
under their different names.
[Illustration: ORLE.]
ORLE. A subordinate ordinary composed of double lines going round the
shield at some distance from its edge; it is half the width of the
bordure.
OVER ALL. This expression describes a figure borne over another and
obscuring part of it.
[Illustration: Over all]
EX. Quarterly or and gules, over all a bend vair.
PALE. One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two perpendicular
lines drawn from the base to the chief. The pale occupies one third of
the shield.
[Illustration: Pale]
EX. Azure, a pale or
PALL. A scarf in the shape of the letter Y, forming part of the
vesture of a Roman Catholic prelate. It is introduced as the principal
bearing of the archbishops of Canterbury, Armagh, and Dublin.
[Illustration: Pall]
Ex. Azure, on a pall argent, four crosses fitchy sable, in chief a
cross pattee of the second.
[Illustration: PALLET]
PALLET. A diminutive of the pale.
PALY. A field divided by perpendicular lines into several equal parts
of metal and tincture interchangeably disposed.
[Illustration: Paly]
Ex. Paly of four, argent and gules.
PARTY or PARTED signifies divided, and applies to the several parts of
an escutcheon parted by a line, which always runs in the direction
of one or more of the honourable ordinaries, as may be seen in the
following examples:--
[Illustration: Parted per pale and par bend sinister]
PARTED PER PALE AND PER BEND SINISTER Counterchanged, or and gules.
[Illustration: Parted per pale and per chevron]
PARTED PER PALE AND PER CHEVRON. Gules and or, counter changed.
PARTY PER FESS. A shield parted in the centre by an horizontal line
through the fess point.
[Illustration: Party per fess]
Ex. Party per fess, engrailed, argent and gules.
PARTY PER PALE. This signifies a shield parted by a perpendicular line
down the centre, so that one shield may contain two coats of arms.
[Illustration: Party per pale]
Ex. Parted per pale, gules and argent.
PASCHAL LAMB, or HOLY LAMB.
[Illustration: Paschal lamb]
Ex. Argent, a lamb passant, carrying a banner charged with a cross.
PASSANT. Passing or walking. See LION PASSANT and PASSANT GUARDANT.
PATONCE. See CROSS.
PATTE. A cross small in the centre, wide at the ends. See CROSS.
PATRIARCHAL CROSS. Cross used by patriarchs in the Greek church. See
CROSS.
PEARL. A precious stone, used by ancient heralds for argent in
emblazoning the arms of peers.
PEAN. The name of a fur, the field sable, the tufts or.
PEER. Name given to all persons included in the rank of nobility.
PELLETS. A name given to black roundlets.
PENDANT. A shield suspended or hanging from a branch of a tree,
or from a nail. Shields of arms frequently appear drawn thus in
architecture, and when described are said to be pendant.
[Illustration: Pennons]
PENNONS. Small flags borne at the end of a lance of an esquire or
gentleman bearing his paternal arms. The end of the pennon was cut
off upon the person being created a knight banneret. See BANNERET.
Penoncels or Pencils were small flags decorating the helmet or the
horse armour. They are now only used at funerals. The large flag in
the engraving is a pennon, the smaller, penoncels or pencils.
PHEON. A missile instrument with a barbed head, thrown from a cross
bow.
[Illustration: Pheon]
Ex. Argent, a pheon proper.
PIERCED OR PERFORATED. Cut through the centre.
[Illustration: Pierced]
Ex. Argent, a mullet pierced, sable, on a chief azure, three mullets
pierced, of the first.
PILE. An angular figure like a wedge, formed by lines running from the
dexter and sinister chief to the middle base.
[Illustration: Pile]
Ex. Argent, a pile, purpure.
IN PILE. Arms or other charges that are placed so as to form the shape
of a pile are said to be borne in pile.
[Illustration: In pile]
Ex. Argent, three swords in pile, their points towards the base.
PLATE. One of the six roundlets; its colour is argent, but the
tincture is not mentioned, as the plate is always silver.
POMEIS. Green roundlets.
[Illustration: Pommelled]
POMMELLED. The pommel of the sword is the round ball or knob at the
end of the hilt of a sword.
[Illustration: Portcullis]
PORTCULLIS. A grating suspended by chains, used to defend the entrance
to a castle.
POTENT. The ancient name of a crutch: when the field is covered with
figures like small crutches it is called potent; when the heads of the
crutches touch each other it is called counter potent.
[Illustration: Potent and counter potent]
Ex. Argent and azure, potent and counter potent. Some armorists call
counter potent vary cuppy.
PRINCE. The only Principality in Great Britain is that of Wales. The
title of Prince of Wales is usually conferred upon the eldest son of
the British monarch. All other sons, grandsons, brothers, uncles, and
nephews, are called princes of the blood royal. For instance, the
Duke of Cambridge, the uncle of Queen Victoria, is styled His Royal
Highness Prince Adolphus Frederick Duke of Cambridge.
His son is styled Prince George of Cambridge.
PRINCESS. Daughter of a sovereign. In England the eldest daughter
of the monarch is called the Princess Royal; the others by their
Christian names.
PROCLAMATION. A publication by the authority of the King.
Proclamations of peace or war, or other matters of importance, are
usually read by one of the heralds. They are addressed to the whole
community under their different orders or ranks, viz. Clergy,
Nobility, Gentry, Burgesses, and Commons.
PROPER. This word is used to denote that animals introduced as charges
in an escutcheon appear in their natural colour. Modern writers on
Heraldry consider this word superfluous, as the omission of the name
of any metal or tincture is quite sufficient to make any person
conclude that a lion, horse, or other animal is to be represented as
it appears in nature.
[Illustration: Purpure]
PURPURE. The colour of purple, described in engraving by lines drawn
diagonally from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield.
PURSUIVANTS. Four officers of the Heralds' College, whose duty it
is to attend the King-at-Arms on public occasions, and preside over
certain departments of the Heralds' Office.
They are called--Rouge Croix,
Blue Mantle,
Rouge Dragon,
Portcullis.
They are entitled to rank as gentlemen, but not esquires.
[Illustration: Quartered]
QUARTERED. A shield divided into four equal parts by a cross is said
to be quartered. The quarter occupying the dexter chief is marked 1,
or the first quarter; that occupying the sinister chief, 2; the dexter
base, 3; the sinister base, 4; as in the annexed example.
QUARTERLY. This term is used to signify that the shield is quartered.
In describing the royal arms of England we should say--Quarterly,
first and fourth gules, three lions passant guardant, or. Second, or,
a lion rampant gules, within a double tressure of the same, flory and
counter flory. Third, azure, a harp or, stringed, argent.
[Illustration: Quartered or Parted per Saltier]
QUARTERED OR PARTED PER SALTIER. A field divided by diagonal lines
crossing each other in the centre of the field.
[Illustration: Quarter foil]
QUARTER FOIL. A four-leaved flower.
QUARTERINGS. An escutcheon divided into any number of squares is said
to contain as many quarterings; they may be as numerous as the arms
required. An escutcheon containing a number of quarterings is called a
genealogical achievement.
QUADRATE. Square. See CROSS QUADRATE.
QUARTER PIERCED. See CROSS QUARTER PIERCED.
RADIENT. Any charge having rays or beams about it.
[Illustration: Radient]
Ex. Azure, a pale, or, radient.
RAGULY. Any bearing that is ragged, like the trunk or limbs of a tree
lopped of its branches, is said to be raguly. See CROSS.
RAMPANT. Any beast in a fighting attitude. See LION RAMPANT.
RAY. A stream of light proceeding from a luminous body.
[Illustration: Ray]
Ex. Azure, a ray of the sun issuing out of the dexter corner of the
escutcheon. The lines on each side are not noticed.
REST. The figure inserted in the illustration of the word "clarion" is
by some writers on Heraldry thought to represent a rest for a lance,
and they give the charge that name. See CLARION.
REGARDANT. An animal looking towards the sinister side of the shield.
See LION REGARDANT.
RIBAND. A diminutive of the bend.
[Illustration: Riband]
Ex. Gules, a riband, or.
ROUNDLETS. Small round figures, all named from different metals and
tinctures. See p. 8. [CHAP. II.]
RUBY. A precious stone, formerly used instead of gules.
SABLE. The term used in Heraldry for black.
SALIENT. An animal springing forward. See LION SALIENT.
SALTIER. One of the honourable ordinaries, by Scottish heralds called
St. Andrew's Cross.
[Illustration: Saltier]
Ex. Argent, a saltier, gules
SANGUINE. One of the heraldic tinctures. It is a dark red or blood
colour. By some armorists it is called murrey. The latter word is
considered obsolete.
SAPPHIRE. The name of a precious stone, formerly used to express
azure.
SARDONYX. A precious stone, formerly used to denote sanguine in
emblazoning the arms of the English nobility.
SATURN. The name of a planet, used to denote sable in emblazoning the
royal arms by ancient armorists.
[Illustration: Sceptre]
SCEPTRE. A royal staff; an ensign of sovereignty borne in the hand. It
was originally a javelin without a head. Sceptres of the present
time are splendidly decorated with jewellery. The annexed engraving
represents two sceptres of the kings of England: _the sceptre with
the dove_ is of gold, three feet seven inches long; the circumference
of the handle is three inches, and two inches and a quarter at the end
of the staff; the pomel is decorated with a fillet of table diamonds
and other precious stones; the mound at the top is enriched with a
band of rose diamonds; upon the mound is a small cross of Calvary,
over which is a dove with its wings expanded, as the emblem of mercy.
_The royal Sceptre with the Cross_ is of gold; the handle is plain,
and the upper part wreathed; it is in length two feet nine inches, the
fleur-de-lis of six leaves; the mound, and the cross above it, are
richly embellished with amethysts and diamonds.
SCARPE. A diminutive of the bend sinister.
[Illustration: Scarpe]
Ex. Argent, a scarpe, gules.
SCROLL. The riband below the escutcheon, on which the motto is
inscribed.
SEEDED. When the seed of a rose or any other flower is of a different
tint from the petal, it is called seeded. The heraldic colour of the
seed in the centre of a flower is or, but, as in other proper names,
the colour of the seed is not mentioned unless it is of a different
tincture.
[Illustration: Set foil or Six foil]
SET FOIL OR SIX FOIL. Six leaves conjoined in the centre.
SEGREANT. This term is used to describe a griffin displaying its wings
as if about to fly.
[Illustration: Segreant]
Ex. A griffin rampant, segreant, gules.
SEJANT. French word for sitting. See LION SEJANT.
SEMÉ. A French word for strewed. A field powdered or strewed with any
object is said to be semé: thus a shield may be semé of fleur-de-lis,
semé of hearts, &c.
SINISTER. A term used in Heraldry to signify the left side of any
object. Thus a bend proceeding from the top of the left side of the
shield is called a bend sinister.
SLIPPED. Torn from the stock or branch.
[Illustration: Slipped]
Ex. Azure, three laurel leaves slipped, argent.
SOL. A planet, formerly used to denote or, in emblazoning royal arms.
It is the Latin name for the sun.
SOL, or THE SUN IN ITS SPLENDOUR. The sun is said to be in its
splendour when it is figured (that is, delineated with a human face)
and surrounded with rays. Sometimes this figure is called a sun in its
glory.
[Illustration: Sol, or The Sun in its Splendour]
Ex. Azure, a sun in its splendour.
STANDARD. A large square flag bearing the whole of the achievements of
the monarch or nobleman, as seen in the royal standard of England. The
royal standard, when placed before the pavilion of the monarch either
at a tournay or in an encampment, was eleven yards long and three
yards broad.
The length of the standard when borne in the field denoted the rank
of the leader: that of a duke was seven yards long; a peer of lower
degree raised a standard five yards in length; that of a knight
banneret was only four. In modern times standards of peers or knights
banneret are seldom displayed but in funeral processions. The standard
is then long and narrow, and pointed at the end; that of a duke is
about fifteen feet in length, peers of lower degree about twelve.
The flag borne as the ensign of a regiment of cavalry is called a
standard. The flags of foot soldiers are called colours.
STAR. This celestial figure is always represented as argent, and is
supposed to have six rays or points; if they have more points the
number must be named. See ETOILE.
STATANT. An animal standing still with all its legs on the ground. See
LION STATANT.
SUPPORTERS are figures standing on the scroll, placed on each side of
the shield as if to support it. Supporters in English Heraldry are
granted only to persons included in the rank of nobility or to knights
banneret by favour of the sovereign.
The origin of this addition to the external ornaments of the
escutcheon may be traced to the practice which originally prevailed
in the regulation of tournaments. Some days prior to the tournament
taking place, each knight desirous of entering the lists was required
to hang up his shield, upon which his arms were emblazoned, at
the place appointed by the prince or nobleman that proclaimed the
tournament, that they might be examined by the heralds, to prevent
unqualified persons entering the lists. Each shield thus exhibited
was guarded or supported by the servants of the knight to whom it
belonged, and to disguise their livery these guardians of the shield
assumed the appearance of savages, Moors, lions, griffins, and various
other animals.
In after times, on the creation of a peer, the Heralds selected the
supporters they deemed most appropriate, having some allusion either
to the deeds, name, title, arms, or motto of the newly-created peer.
SURMOUNTED. A figure or bearing having another over it.
[Illustration: Surmounted]
Ex. Gules, a sword erect in pale, argent, surmounted by two keys,
saltier, or.
SURTOUT. The French word for "over all." See ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE
and OVER ALL.