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"Or, a cross gules, over all a baton argent. BATON. BATUNE. BASTON. It is generally used as an abatement in coats of arms to denote illegitimacy." -Hall, 1862

Baton Abatement

"Or, a cross gules, over all a baton argent. BATON. BATUNE. BASTON. It is generally used as an abatement…

"Bar-sinister. BATON-SINISTER, a well-known heraldic indication of illegitimacy. It is a diminutive of a Bend-sinister, one-fourth of its width, and couped at the ends." -Hazeltine, 1894

Baton Sinister

"Bar-sinister. BATON-SINISTER, a well-known heraldic indication of illegitimacy. It is a diminutive…

"The only abatement used in heraldry is the baton: this denotes illegitimacy. It is borne in the escutcheons of the dukes that assume the royal arms as the illegitimate descendants of King Charles the Second." -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Baton

"The only abatement used in heraldry is the baton: this denotes illegitimacy. It is borne in the escutcheons…

Argent, a fess, azure. The fess is formed by two horizontal lines drawn above and below the centre of the shield. The fess contains in breadth one third of the field. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Baton

Argent, a fess, azure. The fess is formed by two horizontal lines drawn above and below the centre of…