Term Description
Pale One of the nine honorable ordinaries. It is a vertical line, set upright in the middle of the shield and occupying one-third of the field. It seldom contains more than three charges.
Palewise In the manner of a pale or pales; divided by perpendicular lines; to divide the field palewise
Pall A figure having the form of the letter Y. It consists of half a pale issuing from the base, and conjoined in the fesse point with half a saltier from the dexter chief and sinister chief.
Pallet A diminutive of the pale, being one-fourth of its breadth
Palletted Being conjoined by a pallet; as "A chevron palletted."
Paly A field divided into four or more equal parts by perpendicular lines of two tinctures alternating. The number should always be specified; as, "Paly of six argent and gules."
Pard A leopard
Partition One of several divisions made in a coat when the arms of several families are borne on one shield, from intermarriage, etc. (In this connection see QUARTERING.)
PARTITION LINES - The lines by which a shield may be divided. They are closely allied to the ordinaries for which they are named. When a field is divided in the direction of an ordinary it is said to be "party per" that ordinary; as, party per pale, party per bend, etc. Unless otherwise specified, the partition lines are straight; they may, however, be drawn in a variety of ways, such as undy, embattled, dancette, etc.
Party Parted: divided. Used in reference to any division of a field or charge. When a field is divided toward an ordinary it is said to be "party per" that ordinary.
PARTY PER BEND - When the field is divided by a line running diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base.
PARTY PER CHIEF - Divided by a horizontal line one-third the distance of the field from the top of the shield. (Party per chief is rare.)
PARTY PER CROSS - This is called Quarterly.
PARTY PER PALE - Divided by a perpendicular line.
PARTY PER FESSE - Divided by a horizontal line in the center of the shield.
Passant Walking; said of any animal, except beasts of the chase, when represented as walking, with the dexter paw raised. The same attitude in the case of a stag, hart, etc., would be trippant.
Patonce Applied to a cross having expanded ends, like the cross patée, each end terminating in three points
Patriarchal cross A cross in which the shaft is twice crossed, the lower arms being longer than the upper
Pelican While this bird is ocassionally seen in arms, it is more common as a crest. When represented as wounding herself, she is vulning; when feeding her young, in her piety.
PELICAN IN HER PIETY - A pelican represented in the act of wounding her breast to feed her young with her own blood.
Pellet A black roundel. (Also called ogress and gunstone.)
Pennon A small flag or streamer half the size of the guidon
Per By: by the means of: by way of
Pheon A bearing representing the head of a broad arrow or javelin, with long barbs which are engrailed on the inner edge.
Pierced Applied to any bearing which is perforated so as to show the field under it
Pile One of a honorable ordinaries, having the form of a wedge, issuing from the chief, with the point ending with the lower point of the shield. When borne plain it contains one-third of the chief in breadth; when charged, two-thirds.
Plate A roundel tinctured argent
Ploye Bowed and bent
Pommele Having a pommel, as a sword or dagger
Pose Said of a lion, horse or other beast when represented standing still, with all four feet on the ground
Potented Applied to a bearing when the outer edges are T-shaped, or form into potents
Prancing Applied to a horse represented rearing
Prey At prey is applied to the falcon when represented feeding
Preying Applied to any beast or bird of prey when represented standing on and in a proper position for devouring its prey
Pride A term applied to the peacock, turkey cock and other birds which spread their tails in a circular form and drop their wings; as, "A peacock in his pride."
Proper Represented in its natural color. Said of charges; as, "a lion proper."
Purpure Purple. It is represented in engraving by diagional lines declining from the right top of the shield to the left base (from sinister chief to dexter base).
Pye The popinjay; the woodpecker