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This ClipArt gallery offers 225 the ordinaries commonly used in heraldry. The ordinaries are the geometric figures that are created when the shield is divided by straight, curved, or zigzag lines.

"Argent, a fess gules" describes the red (gules) stripe (fess) on the silver (argent) field.

Argent, a Fess Gules

"Argent, a fess gules" describes the red (gules) stripe (fess) on the silver (argent) field.

"Ermine, two bars gules. BAR. An honourable ordinary, occupying one-fifth of the shield. It may be placed in any part of the field. It has two diminutives, the closet and barrulet." -Hall, 1862

Bar Ordinary

"Ermine, two bars gules. BAR. An honourable ordinary, occupying one-fifth of the shield. It may be placed…

Argent, two closets, azure. The closet is a diminutive of the bar, and is half its width. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Bar

Argent, two closets, azure. The closet is a diminutive of the bar, and is half its width. -Hall, 1862

"Parted per pale, baron and femme, two coats; first, or, a chevron gules; second, barry of twelve pieces, azure and argent. In Heraldry, the husband and wife are called baron and femme; ... the shield is in heraldic language said to be parted per pale." -Hall, 1862

Baron and Femme

"Parted per pale, baron and femme, two coats; first, or, a chevron gules; second, barry of twelve pieces,…

"Parted per pale, baron and femme, three coats;—first, gules, on a bend (argent), three trefoils vert: second, parted per fess, in chief azure, a mascle or, with a label argent for difference. In base ermine, a fess, dancette gules. The same rule would apply if the husband had three or more wives; they would all be placed in the sinister division of the shield. If a widower marries again, the arms of both his wives are placed on the sinister side, which is parted per fess." -Hall, 1862

Baron and Femme

"Parted per pale, baron and femme, three coats;—first, gules, on a bend (argent), three trefoils…

"Baron and femme, two coats; first, gules, a saltier argent; second, on an escutcheon of pretence, azure, a chevron, or. Where the baron marries an heiress, he does not impale his arms with hers, as in the preceding examples, but bears them in an escutcheon of pretence in the centre of the shield." -Hall, 1862

Baron and Femme

"Baron and femme, two coats; first, gules, a saltier argent; second, on an escutcheon of pretence, azure,…

"Gules, two barrulets argent. BARRULET. The smallest diminutive of the bar. The closet is half the bar; the barrulet half the closet." -Hall, 1862

Barrulet Ordinary

"Gules, two barrulets argent. BARRULET. The smallest diminutive of the bar. The closet is half the bar;…

Azure, two bars, gemels, argent. The annexed example is to illustrate the word gemels, which is frequently used to describe double bars. The word gemels is a corruption of the French word jumelles, which signifies double. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Barrulet

Azure, two bars, gemels, argent. The annexed example is to illustrate the word gemels, which is frequently…

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. Judges 11:34 KJV

Barry of Seven Pieces

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels…

"Barry of eight pieces, azure and argent. BARRY. A field divided transversely into several equal parts, and consisting of two different tinctures interchangeably disposed." -Hall, 1862

Barry Ordinary

"Barry of eight pieces, azure and argent. BARRY. A field divided transversely into several equal parts,…

"GEMELS. This word signifies double. The example contains two double bars, which in heraldic language would be called two bars gemels." -Hall, 1862

Bars Gemels

"GEMELS. This word signifies double. The example contains two double bars, which in heraldic language…

"Argent, the lower half of the shield three bars wavy, azure. WAVY. Curved lines, undulating like the waves of the sea." -Hall, 1862

Bars Wavy

"Argent, the lower half of the shield three bars wavy, azure. WAVY. Curved lines, undulating like the…

"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…

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…

The white represents silver or "argent," the fesse is the band going across. It is gules or red and its shape is called battlement. "Argent, a Fesse Embattled Gules." -Whitney, 1911

Battlement

The white represents silver or "argent," the fesse is the band going across. It is gules or red and…

"Azure, a bend gules, fimbriated argent. FIMBRIATED. An ordinary having a border of a different tincture is said to be fimbriated." -Hall, 1862

Bend Fimbriated

"Azure, a bend gules, fimbriated argent. FIMBRIATED. An ordinary having a border of a different tincture…

"Argent, a Bend Grady Gules. GRADY. In heraldry, cut into steps, one upon another: said of lines, of the edges of ordinaries, or the like. Sometimes called battled embattled, battled grady, or embattled grady." -Whitney, 1911

Bend Grady

"Argent, a Bend Grady Gules. GRADY. In heraldry, cut into steps, one upon another: said of lines, of…

"Argent, a bend gules, invected between two hurts. INVECTED. A line formed with small semicircles, with the points turned inward. Any ordinary drawn with this line is called invected." -Hall, 1862

Bend Invected

"Argent, a bend gules, invected between two hurts. INVECTED. A line formed with small semicircles, with…

"Azure, a bend argent. BEND. One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally occupies a fifth part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one third." -Hall, 1862

Bend Ordinary

"Azure, a bend argent. BEND. One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines drawn from…

"Quarterly or and gules, over all a bend vair. OVER ALL. This expression describes a figure borne over another and obscuring part of it." -Hall, 1862

Bend Over All

"Quarterly or and gules, over all a bend vair. OVER ALL. This expression describes a figure borne over…

Argent, a scarpe, purpure. The scarpe is the diminutive of the bend sinister, and is half its size. -Hall, 1862

Bend Sinister

Argent, a scarpe, purpure. The scarpe is the diminutive of the bend sinister, and is half its size.…

"Argent, a bend sinister gules. BEND SINISTER. Is the reverse of the bend; it is seldom found in coats of arms, as it is reckoned an abatement." -Hall, 1862

Bend Sinister

"Argent, a bend sinister gules. BEND SINISTER. Is the reverse of the bend; it is seldom found in coats…

"Gules, a bend sinister embattled, argent. EMBATTLED. A line, formed like the battlements on a wall or tower, is said to be embattled or crenelle. When the line is used to form one of the ordinaries, it is said to be embattled." -Hall, 1862

Bend Sinister Embattled

"Gules, a bend sinister embattled, argent. EMBATTLED. A line, formed like the battlements on a wall…

"Argent, a bend undy, gules. UNDY. A term used to express the word wavy by Gwillim and other ancient armorists." -Hall, 1862

Bend Undy

"Argent, a bend undy, gules. UNDY. A term used to express the word wavy by Gwillim and other ancient…

"Argent, a bend, vert. The bend is an honourable ordinary, formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base, and contains the fifth part of the field if uncharged; but if charged with other figures, the third part of the field." -Hall, 1862

Ordinary Bend

"Argent, a bend, vert. The bend is an honourable ordinary, formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the…

"Argent, three bendlets, enhanced gules. ENHANCED. A term applied to bearings placed above their usual situation." -Hall, 1862

Bendlets Enhanced

"Argent, three bendlets, enhanced gules. ENHANCED. A term applied to bearings placed above their usual…

Argent, a bend sinister, purpure. The bend sinister is the same breadth as the bend dexter, and is drawn from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Bendlets

Argent, a bend sinister, purpure. The bend sinister is the same breadth as the bend dexter, and is drawn…

"Bendy of six pieces, azure and argent. BENDY. This word serves to denote a field divided diagonally into several bends, varying in metal and colour." -Hall, 1862

Bendy Ordinary

"Bendy of six pieces, azure and argent. BENDY. This word serves to denote a field divided diagonally…

"Formed by lines drawn horizontally, crossed by others drawn diagonally."—Aveling, 1891

Barry Bendy

"Formed by lines drawn horizontally, crossed by others drawn diagonally."—Aveling, 1891

"A Bordure Gobonated Argent and Gules. GOBONATED. In heraldry, same as componé." -Whitney, 1911

Bordure Gobonated

"A Bordure Gobonated Argent and Gules. GOBONATED. In heraldry, same as componé." -Whitney, 1911

"The canton is a square part of the escutcheon, usually occupying about one-eighth of the field; it is placed over the chief at the dexter side of the shield: it may be charged, and when this is the case, its size may be increased. The canton represents the banner of the ancient Knights Banneret. The canton in the example is marked A." -Hall, 1862

Canton Ordinary

"The canton is a square part of the escutcheon, usually occupying about one-eighth of the field; it…

"Checky, sable and argent. CHECKY. The field covered with alternate squares of metal and fur." -Hall, 1862

Checky

"Checky, sable and argent. CHECKY. The field covered with alternate squares of metal and fur." -Hall,…

A heraldic and ornamental form, supposed to represent two rafters meeting.

Chevron

A heraldic and ornamental form, supposed to represent two rafters meeting.

"Or, a chevron gules. CHEVRON. This ordinary is supposed to represent the rafters of the gable of a house." -Hall, 1862

Chevron

"Or, a chevron gules. CHEVRON. This ordinary is supposed to represent the rafters of the gable of a…

"In heraldry, broken asunder. This condition is depicted in different ways: thus, a fesse fracted may be represented as two demi-bars touching at one angle, or as a bar with a piece broken out of the middle and moved away." -Whitney, 1911

Chevron Fracted

"In heraldry, broken asunder. This condition is depicted in different ways: thus, a fesse fracted may…

Argent, two chevronels, gules. The diminutives of the chevron, according to English Heraldry, are the chevronel, which is half the breadth of the chevron. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Chevron

Argent, two chevronels, gules. The diminutives of the chevron, according to English Heraldry, are the…

"Argent, two chevronels gules. CHEVRONEL. The diminutive of the chevron, being one half its size." -Hall, 1862

Chevronels

"Argent, two chevronels gules. CHEVRONEL. The diminutive of the chevron, being one half its size." -Hall,…

Gules, three couple-closes interlaced in base, or ... the couple-close ... is half the chevronel. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Chevronels

Gules, three couple-closes interlaced in base, or ... the couple-close ... is half the chevronel. -Hall,…

"Argent, a chief, azure, indented. The chief is an ordinary terminated by an horizontal line, which, if it is of any other form but straight, its form must be expressed; it is placed in the upper part of the escutcheon, and occupies one third of the field." -Hall, 1862

Chief Indented

"Argent, a chief, azure, indented. The chief is an ordinary terminated by an horizontal line, which,…

"Or, a chief gules, indented. INDENTED. A serrated figure, much smaller than the dancette." -Hall, 1862

Chief Indented

"Or, a chief gules, indented. INDENTED. A serrated figure, much smaller than the dancette." -Hall, 1862

"Argent, on a chief, gules, two mullets, sable. The chief is an ordinary terminated by an horizontal line, which, if it is of any other form but straight, its form must be expressed; it is placed in the upper part of the escutcheon, and occupies one third of the field." -Hall, 1862

Chief Ordinary

"Argent, on a chief, gules, two mullets, sable. The chief is an ordinary terminated by an horizontal…

Gules, two barrulets, argent. The barrulet is half the width of the closet. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Closet

Gules, two barrulets, argent. The barrulet is half the width of the closet. -Hall, 1862

"Or, two closets azure. CLOSET. A diminutive of the bar, being only one half its width." -Hall, 1862

Closets

"Or, two closets azure. CLOSET. A diminutive of the bar, being only one half its width." -Hall, 1862

"Argent, an inescutcheon azure, border compony, or and gules. COMPONY. A term applied to a bordure, pale, bend, or any other ordinary, made up of squares of alternate metal and colour." -Hall, 1862

Compony

"Argent, an inescutcheon azure, border compony, or and gules. COMPONY. A term applied to a bordure,…

"Gules, a bend argent, coticed of the same. COTICE. One of the diminutives of the bend: cotices are generally borne on each side of the bend. The cotices are frequently of a different tincture from the bend they cotice." -Hall, 1862

Cotice

"Gules, a bend argent, coticed of the same. COTICE. One of the diminutives of the bend: cotices are…

Argent, a riband vert. The riband, which is one third less than the garter and the bendlet, must never occupy more than one sixth of the field. -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Cotice

Argent, a riband vert. The riband, which is one third less than the garter and the bendlet, must never…

Or, a cross, gules. THE CROSS ... as its name imports, was the distinguishing badge of the Crusaders, in its simplest form. It was merely two pieces of list or riband of the same length, crossing each other at right angles. The colour of the riband or list denoted the nation to which the Crusader belonged. The cross is an honourable ordinary, occupying one fifth of the shield when not charged, but if charged, one third. -Hall, 1862

Couple-Close

Or, a cross, gules. THE CROSS ... as its name imports, was the distinguishing badge of the Crusaders,…

"Argent, three couple-closes interlaced vert. COUPLE-CLOSE. One of the diminutives of the chevron, half the size of the chevronel." -Hall, 1862

Couple-Close

"Argent, three couple-closes interlaced vert. COUPLE-CLOSE. One of the diminutives of the chevron, half…

"CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the others." -Hall, 1862

Cross

"CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the others." -Hall,…

Different forms of Cross Fitchy Gules (a red tinctured Cross of St. James).

Cross Fitchy Gules

Different forms of Cross Fitchy Gules (a red tinctured Cross of St. James).

Gules, a saltier, argent. The saltier was formed by making two pieces of riband cross diagonally, having the appearance of the letter X, or, speaking heraldically, the bend and bend sinister crossing each other in the centre of the shield. The saltier, if uncharged, occupies one-fifth of the field; if charged, one-third. -Hall, 1862

Cross Ordinary

Gules, a saltier, argent. The saltier was formed by making two pieces of riband cross diagonally, having…

"Cross quadrate. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the others." -Hall, 1862

Cross Quadrate

"Cross quadrate. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of…

"Cross quarter-pierced. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the others." -Hall, 1862

Cross Quarter-Pierced

"Cross quarter-pierced. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than…

"Cross raguly. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the others." -Hall, 1862

Cross Raguly

"Cross raguly. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the…

"Argent, a pale, dancette vert. DANCETTE. A zig-zag figure with spaces between the points, much larger than in the indented." -Hall, 1862

Dancette

"Argent, a pale, dancette vert. DANCETTE. A zig-zag figure with spaces between the points, much larger…

Differences are shields with a distinguishing charge or bordure. "Party per pale, azure and gules; a bordure, argent." -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Difference

Differences are shields with a distinguishing charge or bordure. "Party per pale, azure and gules; a…

Differences are shields with a distinguishing charge or bordure. "The annexed example is or, a bordure engrailed, gules." -Hall, 1862

Shield Showing Difference

Differences are shields with a distinguishing charge or bordure. "The annexed example is or, a bordure…

The shield is silver or argent and the red or gules chevron is enarched or rounded. "Argent, a Chevron Enarched Gules." -Whitney, 1911

Enarched Chevron

The shield is silver or argent and the red or gules chevron is enarched or rounded. "Argent, a Chevron…

"Argent, a pale between two endorses, gules. The pale has another diminutive one fourth its size; it is called an endorse." -Hall, 1862

Endorses and Pale

"Argent, a pale between two endorses, gules. The pale has another diminutive one fourth its size; it…

On an argent (silver) background, an engrailed gules (red) bend (diagonal band). "Engrailed. In heraldry, cut into concave semicircular indents." -Whitney, 1911

Engrailed Bend

On an argent (silver) background, an engrailed gules (red) bend (diagonal band). "Engrailed. In heraldry,…