In heraldry and vexillology, a charge is an image occupying the field on an escutcheon (or shield). Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. Vexillology is the scholarly study of Flags The word is a synthesis of the Latin word Vexillum and the suffix –''ology'', meaning "study In Heraldry, the background of the Shield is called the field. Charge can also be a verb; for example, if an escutcheon bears three lions, then it is said to be charged with three lions. It is important to distinguish between divisions of the field and charges, and to note that charges can themselves be charged with a superimposed image. Divisions of the field is a heraldic term referring to the pattern on a shield

Sometimes the significance or the allusion behind the charge(s) may be given in the blazon, but this is generally regarded as poor practice.

Thousands of objects found in nature, mythology or technology have appeared in armory, in addition to charges that are unique to heraldry. This article lists only those charges frequently seen, which contribute to the distinctive flavor of heraldic design; a more exhaustive list will be found at List of heraldic charges. See also Charge (heraldry This article does not cover those charges which derive their shape in part from that of the field see Ordinary (heraldry.

Charges can be animals (cf. totem), objects or geometric constructs. A totem is any supposed entity that watches over or assists a group of people such as a family Clan or tribe ( Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Webster's The ordinaries are sometimes called proper charges, with other charges being known as common charges. In French blazon the ordinaries are called pièces while other charges, which may be placed anywhere on the shield, are called meubles (i. e. "mobile"; the same word also means "furniture" in modern French).

Contents 1 Proper charges 1.1 Honourable Ordinaries 1.2 Sub-Ordinaries 2 Common charges 2.1 Simple charges 2.2 Human or manlike beings 2.2.1 Races and nationalities of humans 2.2.2 Parts of human bodies 2.3 Animals 2.3.1 Mammals 2.3.2 Birds 2.3.3 Sea beasts 2.3.4 Reptiles and invertebrates 2.3.5 Parts 2.3.6 Attitude of animals 2.3.6.1 Quadrupeds 2.3.6.2 Fish 2.3.6.3 Serpents 2.3.6.4 Birds 2.4 Plants 2.4.1 Grain crops 2.4.2 Flowers 2.4.3 Fruits 2.4.4 Trees 2.4.5 Other plants 2.5 Inanimate charges 2.5.1 Astronomical 2.5.2 Weather 2.5.3 Geology and geography 2.5.4 Tools 2.5.5 Ships, boats and water transport 2.5.6 Clothing 2.5.7 Buildings 2.5.8 Industrial 2.5.9 Music 2.5.10 Weapons and militaria 2.5.11 Writing 3 References

Proper charges

Main article: Ordinary (heraldry)

Heraldic writers traditionally distinguish, somewhat arbitrarily, between honourable ordinaries and sub-ordinaries. Escutcheon (ɪ'skʌtʃən (also called scutcheon) is the term used in Heraldry for the Shield displayed In Heraldry, the background of the Shield is called the field. In Heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a Coat of arms. In Heraldry, the torse is a twisted roll of fabric wound around the top of the helm and crest to hold the mantle in place In Heraldry, mantling or lambrequin is drapery tied to the helmet above the shield A helmet is a form of Protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries a variation of the hat In Heraldry, a compartment is a design placed under the shield, usually rocks a grassy mount or some sort of other landscape upon which the Supporters A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people In Heraldry, an ordinary is a simple geometrical figure on the arms bounded by straight lines and running from edge to edge or top to bottom of the shield It is often said that only nine charges are honourable ordinaries, but exactly which nine fit into this category is a subject of disagreement. It is sometimes said that only those ordinaries each of whose widths is one-fifth or more of the total width of the escutcheon is honourable.

Narrower or smaller versions of these ordinaries are called diminutives. The names of the diminutives are omitted here for brevity.

Honourable Ordinaries

Several different figures are recognised as honourable ordinaries. Each normally occupies one-fifth to one-third of the field; the precise amount depends on whether there are other charges on the ordinary or on the field.

• The chief is the upper portion of the field. A chief is a term used in heraldic Blazon to describe a charge on a Coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across
• The fess, a horizontal stripe in the centre of the field. FESS is also an acronym for Functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
• The bar, which is of an indeterminate width, but if borne singly supposed to be slightly thinner than a fess.
• The pale, a vertical stripe in the centre of the field. A pale is a term used in heraldic Blazon and Vexillology to describe a charge on a Coat of arms (or Flag) that takes the form
• The bend runs from the upper left to the lower right, as \, as seen by the viewer. In Heraldry, a bend is a colored band running from the upper right corner of the shield to the lower left (from the point of view of a person bearing the shield
• The bend sinister runs from the upper right to the lower left, as /.

• The cross is a geometric construction of two perpendicular lines or bands, and is sometimes referred to as the "noblest" of the honourable ordinaries. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half It has hundreds of variants, most of which are common charges rather than ordinaries; some of these will be discussed below.
• The saltire, sometimes called Saint Andrew's cross, is a diagonal cross. St Andrew's Cross redirects here For the item of BDSM furniture see Saint Andrew's Cross (BDSM A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross

• The chevron is a construction shaped like an inverted letter V
• The pall is shaped like the letter Y. A chevron (also spelled cheveron, especially in older documents is a V-shaped pattern In Typography, a grapheme is the fundamental unit in written language. V is the twenty-second letter in the modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled vee or occasionally ve (viː A pall is a Y -shaped heraldic charge. An example of a (fesswise pall is the green portion of the Flag of South Africa. The letter Y is the twenty-fifth letter in the modern Latin alphabet. (There is a T-shaped charge, the tau, which is not understood to be an ordinary. Tau (uppercase Τ, lowercase τ; Ταυ) is the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet. )
• The pile is a triangle, whose base is along the top of the field, and whose vertex is in the centre of the bottom half of the field.
• The quarter is a rectangle occupying the top left quarter of the field, as seen by the viewer. Quartering in Heraldry is a method of joining several different coats of arms together in one shield by dividing the shield into equal parts and placing
• The canton is a diminutive of the quarter. Canton is a charge placed in the Upper dexter corner It is classed by some heraldic writers as one of the Honorable ordinaries; but strictly speaking

Care must be taken in blazoning when two or more ordinaries or subordinaries, or diminutives thereof, are depicted "conjoined".

Sub-Ordinaries

As well as those mentioned in the above section whose status as honourable ordinaries is disputed, there are several other charges recognised as sub-ordinaries.

• The bordure is a border touching the edge of the field.
• The orle may be considered the inner half of the bordure: it usually follows the shape of the shield, without touching the edges. It cannot have other charges on it. The double tressure is an orle gemel (split into two halves with an orle-shaped line drawn through the middle, and the two halves slightly separated), but never so called: seen in the arms of the kings of Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.
• The fret originally consisted of three bendlets interlaced with three bendlets sinister; this would now be blazoned as a field fretty. In modern depictions the outer strips are combined to form a continuous square. The Harington knot constists of a square balanced on one corner with diagonal lacing.
• The gyron is a right triangle occupying the lower half of the first quarter: its edges are the midlines of an imaginary bend and fess. Two types of special right triangles appear commonly in geometry the "angle based" and the "side based" (or Pythagorean Triangles The former are characterised A gyron sinister, much rarer, is a similar figure in the sinister chief.
• Flaunches or flanches are regions on the sides of the shield, bounded by a pair of circular arcs whose centers are to the right and left of the shield.
• A label is a horizontal strap, with a number of pendants (usually called points, or, more rarely, drops) suspended therefrom; normally three, but any number may be specified. The label is nearly always a cadency mark, but is occasionally found as a regular charge in early armory. In Heraldry, cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same Family. It is sometimes called a file, as in the canting arms of Belfile, a label with a bell hanging from each point. There are some examples in which the strap is omitted, the "drops" depending from the top of the shield.

Common charges

Common charges include land animals, fish, and birds. The heraldic depictions need not, and usually do not, exactly resemble the actual creatures. Mythical creatures used in heraldry are sometimes called "monsters". Inanimate objects are also used; many of them resemble flowers and floral designs.

Simple charges

A number of frequent charges are sometimes listed among the subordinaries (see above), but as their form is not related to the shape of the shield – indeed they may appear independent of the shield, e. g. in crests – they are more usefully considered here. The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a Coat of arms.

• escutcheon: a small shield. Escutcheon (ɪ'skʌtʃən (also called scutcheon) is the term used in Heraldry for the Shield displayed If borne singly in the centre of the main shield, it is called an inescutcheon, and is usually employed to combine multiple coats. General practice, if not strictly speaking a "rule", suggests that it be the same shape as the shield it is on, though shields of specific shapes are rarely specified.

• lozenge: a rhomb, typically resembling the diamonds of playing-cards (except that its sides are always straight). The lozenge in Heraldry is a diamond-shaped charge (an object that can be placed on the field of the shield usually somewhat narrower than it is tall In Geometry, a rhombus (from Ancient Greek ῥόμβος - rrhombos “rhombus spinning top” (plural rhombi or rhombuses Analogues in other suits German suits: Jingle bells small bells (Schellen Swiss German suits jingle bells A more acute lozenge may be called a fusil. A lozenge voided, i. e. with a lozenge-shaped hole, is a mascle; a lozenge pierced, i. e. with a round hole, is a rustre (rare).

• billet: a rectangle, usually at least twice as tall as it is wide; it may represent a block of wood or a sheet of paper. Billets appear in the shield of the house of Nassau, which was modified to become that of the kingdom of the Netherlands. The House of Nassau is a diversified dynasty in Europe It is named after the German lordship associated with the castle of Nassau, which is today located in the The Netherlands and The Kingdom of the Netherlands are two distinct geographical and administrative entities A rare variant is the square delf.

• roundel: a solid circle, often representing either a coin or a cannonball. A roundel in Heraldry is any circular shape in military use it is an Emblem of nationality employed on military aircraft and air force flags generally round and An annulet is a roundel voided, i. An annulet (ie "little ring" in Heraldry, is a difference or mark of distinction which the fifth brother of any family ought to bear in his Coat of arms e. a ring.

Several other simple charges occur often enough to be grouped with these:

• mullet: a star of (usually) five or six straight rays, originally representing a spur. In Heraldry the term mullet or molet refers to a charge or a Difference in the conventional shape of a star, by default one with A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of Riding boots for the purpose of directing a Horse to move forward or laterally while riding

• crescent: a symbol of the Moon, normally with its horns upward; if its horns are to dexter it represents a waxing moon (increscent), and with horns to sinister it represents a waning moon (decrescent). For things named Crescent see Crescent (disambiguation. In art and symbolism a crescent is generally the shape produced when a

• fleur-de-lis — see Flowers below. The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily

• cross. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half When the cross does not reach the edges of the field, it becomes a common charge. The plain Greek cross (with equal limbs) and Latin cross (with the lower limb extended) are sometimes seen, but more often the tip of each limb is developed into some ornamental shape. Several of the most frequent variants are shown at Cross#In heraldry; another occasionally seen (and not shown in that article) is the Calvary cross, a Latin cross standing on a series of steps. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half

• escallop: the shell of the scallop, a symbol of pilgrimage. A seashell, also known as a sea shell, is the Common name for a hard protective outer layer a shell or in some cases a " test " that was created A scallop (ˈskɒləp or /ˈskæləp/ is a marine Bivalve Mollusk of the family Pectinidae. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance

• ermine spot: properly a component of the tincture ermine but sometimes seen as an independent charge. In Heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to Emblazon a Coat of arms. In Heraldry, ermine is one of the furs used in Blazon, representing the skin of the stoat, known in medieval Latin as armenius (

• goutte: a "drop" of some liquid, seen more often in a field semé than as a single charge; there is a perhaps unique instance of these being blazoned as "drops". A goutte is a droplet-shaped charge used in Heraldry. Its name derives from the Old French for "droplet" [1]

• heart — notably in the arms of the kingdom of Denmark

In English heraldry the crescent, mullet, martlet, annulet, fleur-de-lis and rose may be added to a shield to distinguish cadet branches of a family from the senior line. The heart (♥ has long been used as a Symbol to refer to the spiritual, Emotional moral, and in the past also intellectual core The National Coat of Arms of Denmark consists of three crowned blue lions accompanied by nine red hearts all in a golden shield For things named Crescent see Crescent (disambiguation. In art and symbolism a crescent is generally the shape produced when a In Heraldry the term mullet or molet refers to a charge or a Difference in the conventional shape of a star, by default one with Note that the British version of the F4F Wildcat was initially called the Martlet. An annulet (ie "little ring" in Heraldry, is a difference or mark of distinction which the fifth brother of any family ought to bear in his Coat of arms The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily A rose is a perennial flowering Shrub or vine of the Genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species In Heraldry, cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same Family. It does not follow, however, that a shield containing such a charge belongs to a cadet branch. All of these charges occur frequently in basic (undifferenced) coats of arms.

Human or manlike beings

Humans, deities, angels and demons occur more often as crests and supporters than on the shield. The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a Coat of arms. In Heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up

The largest group of human charges consists of saints, often as the patron of a town. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Knights, bishops, monks and nuns, kings and queens also occur frequently. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective A Nun is a Woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life List of current queens regnant A queen regnant (plural "queens regnant" is qualifying reference to a female Monarch possessing and exercising all of the monarchal

The savage or wild man wears only a loincoth made of leaves, and usually carries a club.

Greco-Roman mythological figures typically appear in an allegorical or canting role. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Roman mythology, or more appropriately Latin mythology, refers to the mythological beliefs of the Italic people inhabiting the region of Latium and its The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Canting arms is a technique used in European Heraldry whereby the name of the individual or community represented in a Coat of arms is "translated" into

Angels very frequently appear, but angelic beings of higher rank, such as cherubim and seraphim, are extremely rare. An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition CHERUB is a series of young adult books written by the author Robert Muchamore. A seraph ( Heb. שׂרף, pl שׂרפים Seraphim, lat. seraph'' pl An archangel appears in the arms of Arkhangelsk. Archangels are superior or higher-ranking Angels Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions including Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism Arkhangelsk (Арха́нгельск formerly called Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast The Devil (or a demon) is occasionally seen, being defeated by the archangel Saint Michael. The Devil is the Archangels are superior or higher-ranking Angels Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions including Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism Michael (מִיכָאֵל Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; Μιχαήλ Mikhaíl; Michael or Míchaël; ميخائيل Mikhā'īl) is an

Though the taboo is not invariably respected, British heraldry in particular, and to a greater or lesser extent the heraldry of other countries, frowns on depictions of God or Christ, though an exception may be in the not-uncommon Continental depictions of Madonna and Child, including the Black Madonna in the arms of Marija Bistrica, Croatia. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " A Black Madonna or Black Virgin is a statue or painting of Mary in which she is depicted with dark or black skin [2]

There are rare occurrences of a "child" (used to mean "boy"), both the head and entire body. A famous example birth of a child out of a dragon's mouth (the biscione) in the arms of Visconti dukes of Milan. The Biscione (Italian for ‘large Grass snake ’ also known as the Vipera (‘ viper ’ or in Milanese as the Bissa) Visconti was the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy.

Races and nationalities of humans

Particularly in Europe, the "default" human is almost always depicted as one of European ancestry, though contrary examples can very occasionally be seen. [3]) "Humans" so blazoned are rare, though there are some examples.

Generally speaking, there is only one type of woman: young and blonde, with disheveled hair (though there are occasional instances of her hair being braided), and appearing more often as a bust than head. Blond (also spelled blonde, see below) or fair-haired is a Hair color characterized by low levels of the dark Pigment eumelanin A braid (also called plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers wire or human hair

The American Indian occasionally appears in heraldry though far more often as a supporter than a charge. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States

The Maure (Moor) or "blackamoor" is inaccurately shown as being (sub-Saharan) African, although James Parker states that an "African" appears in the arms of Routell,[4]

Turks appear frequently in Balkan (e. A Maure, since 11th Century, is the Symbol of an African head. Negro is a term referring to people of Black African ancestry The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish g. Hungarian) armory, as defeated enemies. Hungarian heraldry follows German heraldry in its artistic forms but has got its own character

Parts of human bodies

Parts of human bodies occur more often than the whole, particularly heads (often of exotic nationality), hearts (always stylized), hands, and armored limbs.

A famous heraldic hand is the Red Hand of Ulster, alluding to an incident in the legendary Milesian invasion. The hands ( med / lat: manus pl manūs are the two intricate prehensile multi- Fingered body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a "Red Hand" redirects here For the event see Red Hand Day. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster Milesians are a people figuring in Irish mythology. The descendants of Míl Espáine, they were the final inhabitants of Ireland, and were believed to represent

Ribs occur in Iberian armory, canting for Costa. In Vertebrate Anatomy, ribs ( Latin costae) are the long curved Bones which form the ribcage. [5]

The Lombard family of Coglione bore "per fess gules and argent, three pairs of testicles counterchanged". Lombardy (Lombardia Latin: Langobardia, Western Lombard: Lumbardìa, Eastern Lombard: Lombardia) is one of the Bartolomeo Colleoni (c 1395/1400 &ndash November 2, 1475) was an Italian Condottiero. The testicle (from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis, meaning "witness" virility plural testes) is the male [6] This charge has sometimes been described and rendered as a heart inverted.

Animals

Mammals

The beast most often portrayed in heraldry is the lion. When posed passant guardant (walking and facing the viewer), he is called a léopard in French blazon.

Other beasts frequently seen include wolf, bear, boar, horse, bull or ox, stag. The grey wolf or gray wolf ( Canis lupus) also known as the timber wolf or simply wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora The boar or wild boar ( Sus scrofa) is an Omnivorous, gregarious Mammal of the biological family Suidae. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family Oxen (singular ox) are Cattle trained as draft animals. Often they are adult castrated males A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae.

The tiger (unless blazoned as a Bengal tiger) is a fanciful beast with a wolflike body, a mane and a pointed snout. The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus

Dogs (of various breeds) occur more often as crests or supporters than as charges. The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order

The unicorn resembles a horse with a single horn, but its hooves are usually cloven like those of deer. A unicorn (from Latin unus 'one' and cornu 'horn' is a Mythological creature. A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae.

The griffin combines the head (but with ears), chest, wings and forelegs of the eagle with the hindquarters and legs of a lion. The griffin is a Legendary creature with the body of a Lion and the head and often wings of an Eagle. The male griffin lacks wings and his body is scattered with spikes.

Birds

• martlet, a stylized swallow without beak or feet
• eagle, shown with two heads in the arms of the Holy Roman Empire and sometimes with three heads in the arms of imperial Russia
  • alerion, an eagle without beak or feet, appears in the arms of the duchy of Lorraine for which its name is an anagram
• rooster
• dove
• owl, which is associated with wisdom and learning, thus often found in the coats of arms of teaching institutions. Note that the British version of the F4F Wildcat was initially called the Martlet. The Eagle is used in Heraldry as a charge, as a Supporter, and as a crest. The double-headed eagle is a common symbol in Heraldry and Vexillology. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Alerion is an eagle-like bird from medieval Bestiaries. They were said to be larger than an eagle the color of fire and the royalty of birds Lorraine (Lorraine Lothringen is a historical area in present-day northeast France. A rooster (also called a cock or chanticleer) is a male Chicken ( Gallus gallus) the female being called a Hen. The Owls are an order of birds of prey. Most are Solitary, and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e

Sea beasts

Fish of various species often appear in canting arms, e. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Canting arms is a technique used in European Heraldry whereby the name of the individual or community represented in a Coat of arms is "translated" into g. : pike for Pike; luce (perch) for Lucy; dolphin (a conventional kind of fish rather than the natural mammal) for the Dauphin de Viennois. Perca is the genus of fish referred to as perch or sometimes yellow perch, a group of freshwater Fish belonging to the family Percidae The Coryphaenidae, also called the dolphinfishes are a family of marine ray-finned Fish belonging to the Order Perciformes. The Counts of Albon ( Comtes d'Albon) were minor French nobles in south-eastern France in the Rhône Alps region

The escallop (scallop shell) became popular as a token of pilgrimage to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. A scallop (ˈskɒləp or /ˈskæləp/ is a marine Bivalve Mollusk of the family Pectinidae. Santiago de Compostela (also Saint James of Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia and a UNESCO World

The sea-lion and sea-horse, like the mermaid, combine the foreparts of a mammal with the tail of a fish, and a dorsal fin in place of the mane. A mermaid is a Mythological aquatic creature that is half human half aquatic creature (e (When the natural seahorse is meant, it is blazoned as a hippocampus. Seahorses are a Genus ( Hippocampus ') of fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae, which also includes Pipefish and Leafy )

The sea-dog and sea-wolf are quadrupeds but with scales, webbed feet, and often a flat tail resembling that of the beaver. Beavers are two primarily nocturnal semi-aquatic species of Rodent, one native to North America and one to Europe

Reptiles and invertebrates

• serpent

• salamander is typically shown as a generic lizard surrounded by flames. Serpent is a word of Latin origin (from serpens serpentis "something that creeps snake" that is commonly used in a specifically mythic or This article is about the legendary creature for the amphibian see Salamander.

• The dragon is a large reptile with a forked tongue, an eagle's eyes, a bat's wings, and four legs. The dragon is a Legendary creature of which some interpretation or depiction appears in almost every culture worldwide The wyvern is a dragon with only two legs. A wyvern or wivern (derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for serpent and ˈwɪvən is a legendary winged reptilian creature often found in Mediaeval

• Bees and beehives appear as symbols of industry; the bee was a favorite badge of Napoleon. Bees are flying Insects closely related to Wasps and Ants Bees are a Monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea A beehive is in a general sense an enclosed structure in which some species of Honey bees (genus Apis) live and raise their young Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe.

Parts

Animals' heads are also very frequent charges, as are the paw or leg (gamb) of the lion, the wing (often paired) of the eagle, and the antler (attire) of the stag.

Heads of horned beasts (bull, stag) are typically shown caboshed: face-on, so as to display the horns, and with no neck visible. Other heads are usually shown in profile. If the neck ends in a clean horizontal line, it is 'couped;' if in a ragged edge (as if the head were forcibly torn from the body), it is 'erased. '

Sometimes only the forward half of a beast is shown; for example, the demi-lion is among the most common forms of crest. The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a Coat of arms.

Attitude of animals

The position, or attitude, of the creature's body is also described.

By default, the charge faces the left, as seen by the viewer; this would be forward on a shield worn on the left arm (leaving the right hand to hold a weapon).

• The head of an animal guardant faces the viewer,
• The head of an animal reguardant faces the right, as seen by the viewer.

Certain features of an animal are often of a contrasting tincture. The charge is then said to be armed (claws and horns), langued (tongue), pizzled (penis), attired (antlers), unguled (hooves), crined (horse's mane) of a specified tincture.

Quadrupeds

• at bay (of prey): standing on four feet
• at gaze (of prey): standing on four feet, gardant
• couchant (of predators): lying on the ground, head raised
• courant: running: body horizontal, all four feet raised
• dormant: sleeping: lying on the ground, head lowered
• gardant: head turned to face the viewer
• lodged (of prey): lying on the ground, head raised
• passant (of predators): walking: standing on three feet, one forefoot raised
• rampant: standing on left hind foot, other feet raised to fight; this is the most frequent position for lions and the like, typically omitted in early blazon
• reguardant: head turned back over its shoulder
• salient (of predators): leaping, both hind feet planted
• segreant: like rampant, but applied to winged quadrupeds such as griffins
• sejant erect: sitting on hindquarters, forefeet raised
• sejant: sitting on hindquarters, forefeet planted
• springing (of prey): leaping, both hind feet planted
• statant (of predators): standing on four feet
• trippant (of prey): walking: standing on three feet, one forefoot raised

• The bear, apparently uniquely, can walk on its hind legs.

Fish

A straight horizontal fish is naiant (swimming); an arched horizontal fish is embowed. Naiant is a term in Heraldry which means swimming to the viewer's left. If the fish is vertical, and its head is upward, it is hauriant; if its head is downward, the fish is urinant.

Serpents

Frequent positions for serpents are glissant (gliding) and nowed (knotted). KNOT (1450 AM) is a commercial Classic Country music Radio station in Prescott Arizona, broadcasting to the Flagstaff - Prescott

An ouroboros is a snake looped with its tail in its mouth.

The rattlesnake, uniquely, may be coiled to strike.

Birds

The terminology for birds is based on the position of the wings.

• If a bird faces the viewer, with the head turned to one side, and the wings spread apart on either side, the bird is displayed.
• If the bird is not shown facing the viewer, and the wings are shown spread apart, the bird is volant (flying);

*(The attitude "volant" is also sometimes applied to aircraft. )

• If the wings are shown folded, the bird is trussed, close or perched.
• If the bird's head faces upward, the bird is rising or rousant (about to take flight).
• Swans and ducks are very occasionally found naiant (= swimming). [7]
• There are several examples of crowing cocks. A rooster (also called a cock or chanticleer) is a male Chicken ( Gallus gallus) the female being called a Hen.
• A stork standing on one leg is vigilant

Plants

Plants are extremely common in heraldry and figure among the earliest charges. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. (The colonial-era arms of Tlemcen, Algeria are unusual in that they contain generic "plants". ) The turnip, for instance, makes an early appearance, as does wheat. For similar vegetables also called "turnip" see Turnip (disambiguation. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East.

When the fruit of a tree, branch, or the like is mentioned, as it generally will only be if it is of a different tincture, it is said to be fructed of the tincture. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or The arms of the French family of Fenoyer provide a perhaps unique example in which the number of "pieces" of the "fructed" is stated.

Grain crops

• Wheat constantly occurs in the form of "garbs" or sheaves (and in fields in the arms of the province of Alberta and elsewhere), though less often as ears), though most often they are shown in stylised form. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905
  • bearded wheat ears are distinguished in the arms of the 469th Support Battalion of the United States Army
• Ears of rye are depicted exactly as wheat, except the ears droop down. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Rye ( Secale cereale) is a grass grown extensively as a grain and forage crop
• "Ginny wheat" (like wheat but with a fatter ear) also exists.
• There are very few examples of barley, maize and oats. Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Oats redirects here It may mean either the common cereal oat discussed here or any cultivated or wild species of the Genus Avena.

Flowers

The most famous heraldic flower is the fleur-de-lis, which is often stated to be a stylised lily, though despite the name there is considerable debate on this. The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily The "natural" lily, somewhat stylised, also occurs, as (together with the fleur-de-lys) in the arms of Eton College. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI.

The rose is perhaps even more widely seen than the fleur-de-lis. A rose is a perennial flowering Shrub or vine of the Genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species Its heraldic form is derived from the "wild" type with only five petals. It is often barbed (the hull of the bud, its points showing between the petals) and seeded in contrasting tinctures.

The thistle frequently appears as a symbol of Scotland. This article is about the plant for other uses see Thistle (disambiguation. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

The trefoil, quatrefoil and cinquefoil are abstract forms resembling flowers. The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves" and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts

• The trefoil is supposed to be always, and is default, slipped, i. e. with a stem, though there is at least one exception.
• The cinquefoil is sometimes blazoned fraise (strawberry flower), especially when canting for Fraser. Canting arms is a technique used in European Heraldry whereby the name of the individual or community represented in a Coat of arms is "translated" into

The trillium flower occurs occasionally in a Canadian context, and the protea flower constantly appears in South Africa. Trillium is a genus of about 40-50 species of perennial herbaceous Flowering plants native to temperate regions of North America and Asia "Sugarbush" redirects here For the ski resort see Sugarbush Resort Protea is both the Botanical name

Fruits

Apples and bunches of grapes occur very frequently, other fruits less so. The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is

Trees

When the species of a tree is specified, it is drawn in a stylized form so that its fruit (if it is blazoned as "fructed," which it may well need to be to distinguish types of trees from each other) and the shape of its leaves are conspicuous.

The most frequent tree by far is the oak, followed by the pine. The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation.

A small group of trees is blazoned as a "hurst", which is distinguished from a forest. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria

If a tree is "eradicated" it is shown as if it has been ripped up from the ground, the roots being exposed. "Erased" is rarely used for a similar treatment. [8]

In Portuguese heraldry but rarely in the heraldry of other countries trees are sometimes found decorticated.

Other plants

• The maple usually occurs only in the form of the maple leaf (and occasionally seeds)[9]
• Nuts are sometimes blazoned simply as "nuts" (depicted like the walnut) though the most frequently occurring nut is the acorn, often cracked by a squirrel, and constantly in conjunction with the oak. Acer ( maple) is a Genus of Trees or Shrubs They are variously classified in a family of their own the Aceraceae, or The maple leaf is the characteristic Leaf of the Maple tree, and is an important national symbol of Canada. Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants. Walnuts (genus Juglans) are Plants in the family Juglandaceae. The acorn is the nut of the Oak tree (genera Quercus, Lithocarpus and Cyclobalanopsis, in the
• Grass is sometimes specified to occur on the "mounts vert" (green hillocks) on which charges on the shield, or crest, sit or are placed. Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include
• The broom plant, symbol of the Plantagenets, occurs occasionally. Brooms are a group of Evergreen, semi-evergreen and Deciduous Shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the Legume family Fabaceae The House of Plantagenet (planˈtadʒɪnɪt also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble
• The fern is usually found as part of the "fern-brake" or group of ferns. A fern is any one of a group of about 20000 Species of Plants classified in the phylum or division Pteridophyta, also known as Filicophyta Almost invariably ferns are "generic" and mature but the arms of John Leighton Williamson give an example of fiddleheads (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Fiddlehead ferns refers to the unfurled fronds of a young Fern harvested for food consumption The Ostrich fern or Shuttlecock fern ( Matteuccia struthiopteris) is a crown-forming colony-forming Fern, occurring in temperate regions of the
• hemp (French chanvre): in the canting arms of Chennevières lès Louvres, in the department of Val d'Oise. This article is about the cultivation and uses of industrial hemp not its psychoactive cousin Cannabis (drug. Canting arms is a technique used in European Heraldry whereby the name of the individual or community represented in a Coat of arms is "translated" into Val-d'Oise is a French department named after the Oise River, located in the Île-de-France region.

Inanimate charges

Astronomical

The sun is a disc with twelve or more wavy rays, or alternating wavy and straight rays. The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System.

The moon is occasionally depicted "in her plenitude" (full), distinguished from a roundel argent by having a face; but crescents occur much more frequently. For things named Crescent see Crescent (disambiguation. In art and symbolism a crescent is generally the shape produced when a

Estoiles are stars with wavy rays; pole stars are occasionally differentiated. A pole star is a visible star especially a prominent one that is approximately aligned with the Earth 's Axis of rotation; that is a star whose apparent position

Weather

• Clouds often occur, though more frequently for people or animals to stand on or issue from than as isolated charges. A cloud is a visible mass of droplets or frozen crystals floating in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another Planetary body

• In terms of clouds' precipitation, the raindrop as such is unknown,
• and the snowflake (blazoned as "snow crystal"[10]) is only known in more recent times,
• though the snowball predates this by some centuries. A snowball is a spherical object made from frozen water or Snow, usually created by scooping snow with the hands and compacting it into a roughly fist-sized

Geology and geography

The oldest charge of this class is the mount, typically a green hilltop rising from the lower edge of the field, providing a place for a beast or a building to stand. This feature is exceedingly common in Hungarian arms.

A charge distinctive to Italian arms is a mount stylized as a 'pyramid' of three or six domed cylinders.

Natural mountains and boulders are not unknown, though ranges of mountains are diffently shown. An example is the arms of Edinburgh, portraying Edinburgh Castle atop Castle Rock. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Edinburgh Castle is an ancient Stronghold which dominates the sky-line of the Volcanos are shown, almost without exception, as erupting, and the eruption is generally quite stylised. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the

In the 18th century, landscapes began to appear in armory, often depicting the sites of battles. For example, Admiral Lord Nelson received a chief of augmentation containing a landscape alluding to the Battle of the Nile. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson 1st Duke of Bronté, KB (29 September 1758– 21 October 1805 was a British The Battle of the Nile or Aboukir Bay (August 1-2 1798 saw a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson defeat a French

Tools

Tools include:

• axes, including ice-axe, pickaxe, halberd
• hammers, occasionally of specific types
  • maul
• shovel
• sickle
• ladders typically take the form of scaling ladders. A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape split and cut Wood, Harvest timber, as a Weapon An ice axe is a multi-purpose Mountaineering tool carried by practically every mountaineer A pickaxe is a Hand tool with a hard head attached Perpendicular to the handle A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object The most common uses are for driving nails fitting parts and breaking up objects A shovel is a Tool for lifting and moving loose material such as Coal, Gravel, Snow, Soil, or Sand and is an A sickle is a hand-held Agricultural Tool with a curved Blade typically used for harvesting grain crop or cutting grass for Hay. A ladder is a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps. There are two types rigid ladders that can be leaned against a vertical surface such as a Wall, and
• scales (weighing)
• scissors
• A torch, lamp, or candle. A weighing scale (usually just "scale" in common usage except in Australian English where "scales" is more common is a Measuring instrument for Scissors are hand operated cutting instruments consisting of a pair of Metal Blades connected in such a way that the blades meet and cut materials placed

The wheel is almost invariably a carriage wheel. A wheel is a circular device that is capable of rotating on its axis facilitating movement or transportation whilst supporting a load ( Mass) or performing labour in machines

Ships, boats and water transport

Ships of various types often appear; the most frequent being the ancient lymphad. A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size A Birlinn comprised a class of small Galleys with 12 to 18 Oars used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Also frequent are anchors and oars. An anchor is an object often made out of metal that is used to attach a ship to the bottom of a body of water at a specific point An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end

Clothing

Buckles occur not infrequently, including the stylized boucle d'Oise. A buckle (from Latin buccula) is a Clasp used for fastening two things together such as the ends of a belt, or for retaining the end of a

The ecclesiastical hat and bishop's mitre are not uncommon. A hat is a headcovering It may be worn for protection against the elements for religious reasons for safety or as a Fashion accessory. The mitre (sometimes also spelled miter from the Greek μίτρα, 'headband' or 'turban' is a type of headgear now known as the traditional ceremonial head-dress of

Crowns and coronets of various kinds are constantly seen. A crown is the traditional Symbolic form of Headgear worn by a Monarch or by a Deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring

The maunch is a lady's sleeve, highly stylized, resembling a fancifully-written letter M; in French blazon it is called manche mal taillée, a sleeve badly cut. ^[1]

Buildings

By far the most frequent building in heraldry is the tower, a tapering cylinder of masonry topped with battlements, usually having a door and a few windows. A battlement, (also called a Crenellation) in defensive Architecture such as that of City walls or Castles comprises a Parapet A castle is two towers joined by a wall; but the canting arms of the Kingdom of Castile are Gules, a tower triple-turreted Or, i. Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. e. three small towers standing atop a larger one.

• The ordinary chess-rook would be indistinguishable from a tower; the heraldic chess rook, instead of battlements, has two outward-splayed "horns". A rook, (♖ ♜ borrowed from Persian رخ rokh, Sanskrit rath, "chariot" also known as a castle is a piece in the
• The doorway of a castle is often secured by a portcullis. A portcullis is a latticed Grille or Gate made of wood metal or a combination of the two This charge was used as a canting badge by the Tudors (two-doors), and has since come to represent the British Parliament. The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was an English royal Dynasty that lasted 118 years from 1485 to 1603 a period known as the Tudor period

Civic and ecclesiastical armory often shows a church or a whole town.

Sometimes a specific building is depicted; e. g. the shield of the city of Edinburgh has a representation of Edinburgh Castle atop Castle Rock. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Edinburgh Castle is an ancient Stronghold which dominates the sky-line of the

Bridges, variously and usually more fully described, often occur. A bridge is a Structure built to span a Gorge, Valley, Road, railroad track, River, Body of water

Industrial

• Charges related to industry include the cogwheel. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" This is the page for mechanical Gears For other uses see Gear (disambiguation For the gear-like device used to drive a roller chain see Sprocket
• Keys (taking a form similar to a "skeleton key") frequently appear, particularly in allusion to Saint Peter. A key is a device which is used to open a lock. A typical key consist of two parts the blade, which slides into the Keyway of the lock and distinguishes A key is a device which is used to open a lock. A typical key consist of two parts the blade, which slides into the Keyway of the lock and distinguishes

Music

Musical instruments commonly seen are the harp (as in the coat of arms of Ireland), bell and trumpet. The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. The Coat of arms of Ireland is Blazoned as azure a harp or stringed argent - a gold Harp with silver strings on a St A bell is a simple Sound -making device The bell is a Percussion instrument and an Idiophone. The drum, almost without exception, is a field drum type. The drum is a member of the percussion group technically classified as a Membranophone.

Weapons and militaria

The sword is sometimes a symbol of authority, as in the royal arms of the Netherlands, but more often alludes to Saint Paul, as the patron of a town (e. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and g. London) or dedicatee of a church. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

Other weapons occur more often in modern than in earlier heraldry.

• The trophy is a collection of armor and weapons. ----A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement and usually afterwards serves as proof of merit A weapon is a Tool used either in Hunting, or attack or defence in Combat for the purpose of subduing enemy personnel or to destroy enemy weapons
• Bows include the longbow and crossbow; arrows include the birdbolt. To see other senses of this word see Longbow (disambiguation. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts Arrows Grand Prix International was a Formula One team active from 1977 to 2002
• The cannon (and its balls). | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural
• The dirk makes frequent appearances in Scottish heraldry. Dirk is a Scots word for a short Dagger; sometimes a cut-down Sword blade mounted on a dagger Hilt, rather than a knife blade
• The grenade has an appearance similar to a cannonball with flames coming out of a flattened end.
• The mace appears as a weapon in addition to its appearance as a symbol of authority. A mace is a simple Weapon that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows

Flags of various kinds occasionally appear as charges. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification

Writing

Books constantly occur, most frequently in the arms of colleges and universities, though the Gospel and Bible are sometimes distinguished. A Book is a set or collection of written printed illustrated or blank sheets made of Paper, Parchment, or other material usually fastened together College ( Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an Educational Institution. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Books if open may be inscribed with words. Words and phrases are otherwise rare, except in Spanish and Portuguese armory. Letters of the various alphabets are also relatively rare.

Arms of merchants in Poland and eastern Germany are often based on "house-marks", abstract symbols resembling runes, though they are almost never blazoned as runes, but as a combination of other heraldic charges.

References

1. ^ Rietstap, Armorial Général, page XXV. John Woodward and Henry Burnett, A Treatise on Heraldry, British and Foreign, page 376.

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