Term Description
Abased This term is used:
(1) when the wings, for instance, instead of being expanded, with their apices pointing upward, either look down toward the point of the shield, or else are shut.
(2) when a chevron, fesse or another ordinary is borne lower than its usual situation.
Abatements Marks of degradation of coat armour, of which heraldic writers enumerate nine
Abyss The center of an escutcheon
Accollé Gorged or collared, as lions, dogs and other animals sometimes are in escutcheons. Wreathed, entwined or joined together, as two shields sometimes are by their sides. The arms of a husband and wife were often thus placed.
Accompanied Between. For example, accompanied by four crescents, would mean between four crescents
Accorned Bearing acorns
Accosted Applied to a charge supported on both sides by other charges. Example: A pale accosted by six mullets. This term is also applied to two animals proceeding side by side.
Accrued Grown to maturity
Achievement A complete heraldic composition, showing a shield with its quarterings, impalements, supporters, crest, motto, etc. This term is applied especially to a funeral escutcheon, exhibiting the rank and family of a deceased nobleman or gentleman, which at his death is placed in front of his house or in some other prominent place
Addorsed Placed back to bank
Affronté Two animals on a coat of arms facing each other. Face to face, as contradistinguished from back to back
Aislé Winged
Alant, or aland A mastiff dog with short ears
Allerion An eagle without a beak or feet, and with wings expanded, their points turned downward
Allumee This term is used to describe the eyes of animals when they are depicted sparkling or red
Amethyst A precious stone, formely used to express purpure
Ancred or anchored Applied to a cross, of witch the four extremities resemble the flook of an anchor. See under Crosses
Annulet A ring
Appaumé The hand open, presenting the palm, and the fingers and thumb at full lenght
Appointee Pointed. Applied to things which touch at the points or ends, as two swords touching each other at their points or tips
Arched Signifies that an ordinary on an escutcheon is bent or bowed. (Sometimes called archy.)
Argent Silver or white
Armed All birds which have talons and bills that aid them to seize and rend their prey, are in blazon said to be armed when those weapons differ in tincture from their body. But to swans, wild geese, and other birds without talons, the word armed does not apply. They, in like case, are termed beaked and membrerd. Beasts are also described as armed, when their horns or hoofs are of another colour than their body.
Arraché Same as erased
Arrondie Make circular or round
Assis Same as sejant
Atchievement A term used for a fully marshalled coat, but generally for a funeral hatchment
Attired Is applied to the horns of animals of the deer species, instead of armed, as they are supposed to wear their antlers not as weapons, but ornaments
Attires The horns of a buck
Azure Bright blue