"Azure, three laurel leaves slipped, argent. SLIPPED. Torn from the stock or branch." -Hall, 1862

Leaves Slipped

"Azure, three laurel leaves slipped, argent. SLIPPED. Torn from the stock or branch." -Hall, 1862

"Azure, a sun in its splendour. SOL, or THE SUN IN ITS SPLENDOUR. The sun is said to be in its splendour when it is figured (that is, delineated with a human face) and surrounded with rays. Sometimes this figure is called a sun in its glory." -Hall, 1862

Sun in its Splendor

"Azure, a sun in its splendour. SOL, or THE SUN IN ITS SPLENDOUR. The sun is said to be in its splendour…

"Gules, a sword erect in pale, argent, surmounted by two keys, saltier, or. SURMOUNTED. A figure or bearing having another over it." -Hall, 1862

Sword Surmounted by Keys

"Gules, a sword erect in pale, argent, surmounted by two keys, saltier, or. SURMOUNTED. A figure or…

"Argent, a talbot's head erased, semé of billets. TALBOT. A dog formerly used for hunting. It is formed something between a hound and a beagle, with a large snout, and long, round, thick ears." -Hall, 1862

Talbot

"Argent, a talbot's head erased, semé of billets. TALBOT. A dog formerly used for hunting. It…

"Argent, three torteaux in bend, sinister. TORTEAUX. Red roundlets." -Hall, 1862

Torteaux

"Argent, three torteaux in bend, sinister. TORTEAUX. Red roundlets." -Hall, 1862

"Argent, a pile, azure, issuing from the chief between two others, transposed. TRANSPOSED. Charges or bearings placed contrary to their usual situation." -Hall, 1862

Transposed

"Argent, a pile, azure, issuing from the chief between two others, transposed. TRANSPOSED. Charges or…

"Argent, three trefoils, gules, one over two." -Hall, 1862

Trefoils

"Argent, three trefoils, gules, one over two." -Hall, 1862

"TRESSURE. An ordinary not so broad as an orle. It generally forms a border to the inescutcheon. Tressures are frequently borne double, and sometimes treble. They are generally ornamented flory and counter-flory. The example contains only a single tressure." -Hall, 1862

Tressure

"TRESSURE. An ordinary not so broad as an orle. It generally forms a border to the inescutcheon. Tressures…

"Argent, a stag proper, tripping. TRIPPING. The motion of deer, between running and walking." -Hall, 1862

Stag Tripping

"Argent, a stag proper, tripping. TRIPPING. The motion of deer, between running and walking." -Hall,…

"TURRETED. A wall or castle having small turrets. In the annexed example the square tower has circular turrets at the angles, and is therefore said to be turreted." -Hall, 1862

Turreted

"TURRETED. A wall or castle having small turrets. In the annexed example the square tower has circular…

"Argent, a boar's head, erased proper, tusked gules. TUSKED. Any animal having tusks of a different tincture from its body is said to he tusked." -Hall, 1862

Boar Tusked

"Argent, a boar's head, erased proper, tusked gules. TUSKED. Any animal having tusks of a different…

"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, three dexter arms, vambraced, couped. VAMBRACED. Armour for the arms." -Hall, 1862

Vambraced

"Argent, three dexter arms, vambraced, couped. VAMBRACED. Armour for the arms." -Hall, 1862

"Vert, a bordure argent, verdoy, of trefoils. VERDOY. A bordure charged with eight leaves." -Hall, 1862

Verdoy

"Vert, a bordure argent, verdoy, of trefoils. VERDOY. A bordure charged with eight leaves." -Hall, 1862

"Gules, a bend sinister, voided, argent. VOIDED. A term applied when any part of an ordinary is left open to the field." -Hall, 1862

Voided

"Gules, a bend sinister, voided, argent. VOIDED. A term applied when any part of an ordinary is left…

"Argent, a serpent crowned, or, vorant a (person). VORANT. Swallowing or devouring: any animal, in a charge, devouring another creature." -Hall, 1862

Serpent Vorant

"Argent, a serpent crowned, or, vorant a (person). VORANT. Swallowing or devouring: any animal, in a…

"Argent, a pelican's head, erased, vulning. VULNING. Any creature in the act of wounding itself." -Hall, 1862

Pelican Vulning

"Argent, a pelican's head, erased, vulning. VULNING. Any creature in the act of wounding itself." -Hall,…

"Azure, on a pale, walled on each side with three battlements argent, an endorse gules. WALLED. A term sometimes used in Heraldry. When an ordinary is edged or guarded by an embattled wall." -Hall, 1862

Pale Walled

"Azure, on a pale, walled on each side with three battlements argent, an endorse gules. WALLED. A term…

"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…

"WINGS ERECT. Wings are called erect when their long feathers point upwards." -Hall, 1862

Wings Erect

"WINGS ERECT. Wings are called erect when their long feathers point upwards." -Hall, 1862

"WINGS INVERTED. When the feathers point downwards." -Hall, 1862

Wings Inverted

"WINGS INVERTED. When the feathers point downwards." -Hall, 1862

"Argent, a wivern, wings raised. WIVERN. A chimerical animal, the upper part resembling a dragon." -Hall, 1862

Wivern

"Argent, a wivern, wings raised. WIVERN. A chimerical animal, the upper part resembling a dragon." -Hall,…

"WREATH. A chaplet of two different-coloured silks wound round each other, and placed on the top of the helmet for the crest to rest upon." -Hall, 1862

Round Wreath

"WREATH. A chaplet of two different-coloured silks wound round each other, and placed on the top of…

"WREATH. A chaplet of two different-coloured silks wound round each other, and placed on the top of the helmet for the crest to rest upon. In Heraldry it is usually drawn straight." -Hall, 1862

Straight Wreath

"WREATH. A chaplet of two different-coloured silks wound round each other, and placed on the top of…

"Glove-shield, 15th century. A contrivance adopted in the sixteenth century for arming the left hand for parrying thrusts and blows." -Whitney, 1911

Glove-Shield

"Glove-shield, 15th century. A contrivance adopted in the sixteenth century for arming the left hand…

"Glove-shield, 15th century. A contrivance adopted in the sixteenth century for arming the left hand for parrying thrusts and blows." -Whitney, 1911

Glove-Shield

"Glove-shield, 15th century. A contrivance adopted in the sixteenth century for arming the left hand…

"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

This engraving of the Coat of Arms with the Cock was created by German artist Albrecht Dürer. It is a type of Renaissance Heraldry art with rooster standing on a helmet with a shield of a lion right below.

The Coat of Arms with the Cock

This engraving of the Coat of Arms with the Cock was created by German artist Albrecht Dürer. It…

Albrecht Dürer's Pirkheimer Border is a woodcut that was created by German artist Albrecht Dürer in 1513. It has a design of a combination of ribbons, grapes, columns and angels holding a shield at the bottom. A woodcut is created by carving an image on a wooden block and rolling ink over that surface, and then printing it on paper.

Albrecht Dürer's Pirkheinmer Border

Albrecht Dürer's Pirkheimer Border is a woodcut that was created by German artist Albrecht Dürer…

"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…

Art on a Greek vase from Mycenae in about 1200 B.C.

Mycenae

Art on a Greek vase from Mycenae in about 1200 B.C.

"Cross Crosslet on Grieces. GRIECE. In heraldry, a degree or step, as one of the steps upon which crosses are sometimes placed." -Whitney, 1911

Cross Crosslet on Grieces

"Cross Crosslet on Grieces. GRIECE. In heraldry, a degree or step, as one of the steps upon which crosses…

"Gyronny of eight, gules and argent. GYRONNY. In heraldry, dividend into a number of triangular parts of two different tinctures." -Whitney, 1911

Gyronny

"Gyronny of eight, gules and argent. GYRONNY. In heraldry, dividend into a number of triangular parts…

This shield is made out of iron. It is cut in fanciful technique and inlaid with gold and silver.

Shield

This shield is made out of iron. It is cut in fanciful technique and inlaid with gold and silver.

This sculpture depicts two mermaids at the base, a small figure in the center and a lion holding a shield on the very top.

Sculpture

This sculpture depicts two mermaids at the base, a small figure in the center and a lion holding a shield…

Color flag of Israel. White with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag.

Flag of Israel, 2009

Color flag of Israel. White with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David…

Black and white outline flag of Israel. White with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Flag of Israel, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Israel. White with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as…

Color flag of Kenya. Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center.

Flag of Kenya, 2009

Color flag of Kenya. Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged…

Black and white outline flag of Kenya. Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Flag of Kenya, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Kenya. Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;…

Color flag of Slovakia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side.

Flag of Slovakia, 2009

Color flag of Slovakia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with…

Black and white outline flag of Slovakia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Flag of Slovakia, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Slovakia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red…

Color flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands.

Flag of Slovenia, 2009

Color flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian…

Black and white outline flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Flag of Slovenia, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red,…

Color flag of Swaziland. Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally.

Flag of Swaziland, 2009

Color flag of Swaziland. Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red…

Black and white outline flag of Swaziland. Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Flag of Swaziland, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Swaziland. Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width),…

Color flag of Turks and Caicos Islands. Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus.

Flag of Turks and Caicos Islands, 2009

Color flag of Turks and Caicos Islands. Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant…

Black and white outline flag of Turks and Caicos Islands. Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

Flag of Turks and Caicos Islands, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Turks and Caicos Islands. Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper…

Color flag of Virgin Islands. white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel.

Flag of Virgin Islands, 2009

Color flag of Virgin Islands. white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the…

Black and white outline flag of Virgin Islands. white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Flag of Virgin Islands, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Virgin Islands. white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center…

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous tint brightest on the nape, lesser wing-coverts, and tail-coverts, the rest of the upper parts being duller and more grayish-brown, boldly variegated with dark brown streaks; middle pair of tail-feathers and several of the inner secondaries rufous-brown, with darker centres. Under parts, from the breast backward, white; the sides strongly washed with the color of the upper parts, and mottling of same across the lower part of the breast. A large, distinct, shield-shaped black area of the breast. Tail-feathers, except the middle pair, black, the outermost edged with whitish. Wings quills, except the innermost, plain fuscous, the outer web of the 1st primary whitish. Lesser wing-coverts usually tipped with grayish-white. Top of head like nape; bar across front of vertex, thence extended along sides of crown, and produced into a tuft, or "horn" black; front and line over eye, also somewhat produced to form part of the tuft, white or yellowish; a broad bar from nostrils along the lores, thence curving below the eye and widening as it descends in front of the auriculars, black; rest of the sides of the head and whole throat white or sulphury-yellow. Bill plumbeous-blackish, bluish-plumbeous at base below (sometimes there yellowish); feet and claws black; iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Shore Lark

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous…

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous tint brightest on the nape, lesser wing-coverts, and tail-coverts, the rest of the upper parts being duller and more grayish-brown, boldly variegated with dark brown streaks; middle pair of tail-feathers and several of the inner secondaries rufous-brown, with darker centres. Under parts, from the breast backward, white; the sides strongly washed with the color of the upper parts, and mottling of same across the lower part of the breast. A large, distinct, shield-shaped black area of the breast. Tail-feathers, except the middle pair, black, the outermost edged with whitish. Wings quills, except the innermost, plain fuscous, the outer web of the 1st primary whitish. Lesser wing-coverts usually tipped with grayish-white. Top of head like nape; bar across front of vertex, thence extended along sides of crown, and produced into a tuft, or "horn" black; front and line over eye, also somewhat produced to form part of the tuft, white or yellowish; a broad bar from nostrils along the lores, thence curving below the eye and widening as it descends in front of the auriculars, black; rest of the sides of the head and whole throat white or sulphury-yellow. Bill plumbeous-blackish, bluish-plumbeous at base below (sometimes there yellowish); feet and claws black; iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Shore Lark

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous…

Thor defeats a frost giant, Hrungnir. But as he falls, his club hits Thor, causing him to fall too. He is stuck under Hrungnir's foot.

Thor Stuck Under Hrungnir's Foot

Thor defeats a frost giant, Hrungnir. But as he falls, his club hits Thor, causing him to fall too.…

In Norse mythology, there is a war between the Winilers and the Vandals. Odin takes the side of the Vandals and his wife Frigga takes the side of the Winilers. Odin says he will help whoever he sees first the next morning. Frigga makes a plan that the women tie their long hair under their chins like a beard to disguise themselves as men and she moves the bed so Odin faces the window the women are standing near. He names them Long-Beards (Lombards) and helps them to victory.

Lombard Woman

In Norse mythology, there is a war between the Winilers and the Vandals. Odin takes the side of the…

The Coat of Arms of George Washington's family. It is said to be in inspiration of the stars and stripes on the flag of the United States.

Washington Family Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms of George Washington's family. It is said to be in inspiration of the stars and stripes…

"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…

Marshalling is the art of correctly arranging armorial bearings. Two or more coats of arms are often combined in one shield to express inheritance, claims to property, or the occupation of an office. Marshalling can be done in a number of ways, but the principal mode is impalement, which replaced the earlier dimidiation which simply halves the shields of both and sticks them together. Impalement involves using one shield with the arms of two families or corporations on either half.

Marshaling

Marshalling is the art of correctly arranging armorial bearings. Two or more coats of arms are often…

A Roman soldier with a shield and spear.

Roman Soldier

A Roman soldier with a shield and spear.

A decorative letter H illustrated with an angel holding a spear and shield.

Decorative Letter H with Angel Holding Spear and Shield

A decorative letter H illustrated with an angel holding a spear and shield.

This decorative border was designed by German Artist Albrecht Dürer in 1513. It is comprised of a pillar on each side of the border, scrolling ribbon at the top, and two angels holding a shield of a tree on the bottom.

Decorative Border

This decorative border was designed by German Artist Albrecht Dürer in 1513. It is comprised of…

"Circinae. Harriers. Face surrounded with an incomplete ruff (as in most owls); orifice of ear about as large as the eye, and in some cases at least with a decided conch (in this picture). Bill rather weak, not toothed or notched. Bill thickly beset with many curved radiating bristles surpassing in length the cere, which is large and tumid; tomia lobed or festooned, but neither toothed nor notched. Nostrils ovate-oblong, nearly horizontal. Superciliary shield prominent. Tarsus long and slender, scutellate before and mostly so behind, reticulate laterally; toes slender, the middle with its claw much shorter than the tarsus; a basal web between the outer and middle; all tuberculate underneath; Claws very large and sharp, much curved. Wings very long and ample; 3d and 4th quills longest; 1st shorter than 6th; outer 3-5 (in our species 4) emarginate on inner webs; 2d-5th emarginate on outer webs. Tail very long, about 2/3rds as long as the wing, nearly even or rounded, the folded wings falling short of its end. " Elliot, Coues, 1884

Harrier Ear Parts

"Circinae. Harriers. Face surrounded with an incomplete ruff (as in most owls); orifice of ear about…