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"The shield carried by a mounted man-at-arms in the middle ages; especially, the triangular shield of no great length carried during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and hung around the neck by the guige, so as to cover the left arm and left side." -Whitney, 1911

Écu

"The shield carried by a mounted man-at-arms in the middle ages; especially, the triangular shield of…

A chief of a Frankish tribe, wearing full battle armor. He stands looking to his right holding a long spear, Germanic spear, in his left hand and a short axe in his right. A decorated shield rest on his left hip and a cape rests on his shoulders. His hair is in long braids and his helmet is tall and pointed, resembling a crown. His sandals wrap around his leg up to his knee.

A Frankish Chief in Full Armor

A chief of a Frankish tribe, wearing full battle armor. He stands looking to his right holding a long…

Illustration of a Roman soldier, also called a legionary, carrying a shield, short sword, and a short javelin for throwing. He is wearing sandals, traditional armor, and a helmet.

A Roman Soldier, or Legionary, with a Short Javelin and Shield

Illustration of a Roman soldier, also called a legionary, carrying a shield, short sword, and a short…

"The Parting of Achilles and Briseis. (Supposed to be from a Greek Painting.)" —D'Anvers, 1895

The Parting of Achilles and Briseis

"The Parting of Achilles and Briseis. (Supposed to be from a Greek Painting.)" —D'Anvers, 1895

"The western pediment of the Temple of Aegina." —D'Anvers, 1895

Temple of Aegina

"The western pediment of the Temple of Aegina." —D'Anvers, 1895

Man waring Ocreae, or greaves. (From the Aeginetan Marbles)

Aeginetan Marbles

Man waring Ocreae, or greaves. (From the Aeginetan Marbles)

The shield of Jupiter, which had been fashioned by Hephaestus. When Jupiter was angry he waved and shook the shield making a soung like that of a tempest, by which nations were overawed.

Aegis

The shield of Jupiter, which had been fashioned by Hephaestus. When Jupiter was angry he waved and shook…

"Arms of Alexander VI. (Borgia)" — Young, 1901

Alexander VI

"Arms of Alexander VI. (Borgia)" — Young, 1901

"Argent, an allerion gules. ALLERION. An eagle displayed, without beak or feet." -Hall, 1862

Allerion

"Argent, an allerion gules. ALLERION. An eagle displayed, without beak or feet." -Hall, 1862

An almond shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

Almond Shield

An almond shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

"This charge is borne with a cable, and set fesse-wise, by the British Admiralty; but it is usual to place it in pale, and it depicted without a cable, unless the contrary is specified."—Aveling, 1891

Anchor

"This charge is borne with a cable, and set fesse-wise, by the British Admiralty; but it is usual to…

"According to the ancient authorities, it was made of bronze, and its form was oval, but with the two sides receding inward with an even curvature, and so as to make it broader at the ends than in the middle. The original ancile was said to have fallen from the skies in the time of Numa. To secure its preservation, Numa ordered eleven other shields to be made exactly like it. These twelve <em>ancilia</em> were kept in the temple of Mars Gradivus, and were taken from it only once a year, on the kalends of March. The feast of the god was then observed during several days; when the Salii, or priests of Mars, twelve in number, carried the sacred shields about the city, singing songs in praise of Mars, Numa, and Mamurius Veturius, who made the eleven. They at the same time performed a dance, in which they struck the shield with rods, so as to keep time with their voices and with the movements of the dance." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Ancilia

"According to the ancient authorities, it was made of bronze, and its form was oval, but with the two…

"Azure, an annulet argent. Annulets are added to arms for a difference. ANNULET. A small circle borne as a charge in coats of arms." -Hall, 1862

Annulet

"Azure, an annulet argent. Annulets are added to arms for a difference. ANNULET. A small circle borne…

"From annulus, a ring. A mark of difference of the fifth son."&mdash;Aveling, 1891

Annulet

"From annulus, a ring. A mark of difference of the fifth son."—Aveling, 1891

The heraldic charge borne by the fifth eldest son in a family.

The Annulet

The heraldic charge borne by the fifth eldest son in a family.

"ARGENT. The French word for silver, of which metal all white fields or charges are supposed to consist." -Hall, 1862

Argent

"ARGENT. The French word for silver, of which metal all white fields or charges are supposed to consist."…

Argent (silver) represented on a shield.

Argent

Argent (silver) represented on a shield.

A heraldic shield made of argent (silver), which is represented by its plain, smooth surface.

Argent Shield

A heraldic shield made of argent (silver), which is represented by its plain, smooth surface.

"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.

A shield or escutcheon emblazoned with the metal tincture, argent (silver), represented by white.

Argent Shield Metal

A shield or escutcheon emblazoned with the metal tincture, argent (silver), represented by white.

The Seal of the State of Arkansas. The seal shows Mercy, a bald eagle holding a shield, and the sword of justice.

Seal of Arkansas

The Seal of the State of Arkansas. The seal shows Mercy, a bald eagle holding a shield, and the sword…

"Azure, a dexter arm vambraced couped, the fist clenched proper. CLENCHED. The fingers pressed towards the palm of the hand." -Hall, 1862

Arm with Fist Clenched

"Azure, a dexter arm vambraced couped, the fist clenched proper. CLENCHED. The fingers pressed towards…

"Complete Armor of 1195-1205."-Whitney, 1902

Armor

"Complete Armor of 1195-1205."-Whitney, 1902

"Armor and Equipment for man and horse, about 1290."-Whitney, 1902

Armor

"Armor and Equipment for man and horse, about 1290."-Whitney, 1902

"Complete Armor, about 1395"-Whitney, 1902

Armor

"Complete Armor, about 1395"-Whitney, 1902

"Complete suit of Plate-Armor, now in Paris, date about 1440- the epoch of greatest perfection of defensive arms."-Whitney, 1902

Armor

"Complete suit of Plate-Armor, now in Paris, date about 1440- the epoch of greatest perfection of defensive…

The image of a Roman legionnaire. He is equipped with a dense breastplate, a helm, a large round shield, greaves, and a short sword.

Arms and Armor

The image of a Roman legionnaire. He is equipped with a dense breastplate, a helm, a large round shield,…

An array of miscellaneous ancient armors. The image depicts (1) a cuirass, often referred to as a coat of mail, (2) a helmet, (3) the shield, and (4), the greaves.

Arms and Armor

An array of miscellaneous ancient armors. The image depicts (1) a cuirass, often referred to as a coat…

"The Municipal Arms of Rome." &mdash; Young, 1901

Arms of Rome

"The Municipal Arms of Rome." — Young, 1901

"Argent. Three arrows proper, banded. BANDED. Anything tied with a band." -Hall, 1862

Arrows Banded

"Argent. Three arrows proper, banded. BANDED. Anything tied with a band." -Hall, 1862

The heraldic shield of Ralph de Arundel.

Shield of Ralph de Arundel

The heraldic shield of Ralph de Arundel.

"Shields of Baeomyces rufus." -Lindley, 1853

Asci

"Shields of Baeomyces rufus." -Lindley, 1853

"Ermine, on a chevron azure, three foxes' heads erased, argent. The augmentation is in a canton azure, a fleur-de-lis argent. AUGMENTATION. This word signifies in Heraldry a particular mark of honour, granted by the sovereign in consideration of some noble action, or by favour; and either quartered with the family arms, or on an escutcheon or canton." -Hall, 1862

Augmentation

"Ermine, on a chevron azure, three foxes' heads erased, argent. The augmentation is in a canton azure,…

Azure (blue) represented on a shield.

Azure

Azure (blue) represented on a shield.

A heraldic shield with a blue surface, which is represented by the horizontal lines.

Azure Shield

A heraldic shield with a blue surface, which is represented by the horizontal lines.

A shield or escutcheon emblazoned with the color tincture, azure (blue), represented by horizontal lines.

Azure Shield Color

A shield or escutcheon emblazoned with the color tincture, azure (blue), represented by horizontal lines.

"BADGE. A distinctive mark worn by servants, retainers, and followers of royalty or nobility, who, being beneath the rank of gentlemen, have no right to armorial bearings. The rose and crown is the badge of the servants, &c., of the Kings of England: they are displayed as in the annexed example." -Hall, 1862

Rose and Crown Badge

"BADGE. A distinctive mark worn by servants, retainers, and followers of royalty or nobility, who, being…

"BANNER ROLL is a small square flag containing a single escutcheon of the deceased. Thus, if there are twelve quarterings in the banner, the same number of banner rolls will be required to be borne in the funeral procession. The annexed engraving shows the banner and banner-roll." -Hall, 1862

Banner Roll

"BANNER ROLL is a small square flag containing a single escutcheon of the deceased. Thus, if there are…

A banner, featuring two cherubs, torches, and a shield.

Pictorial Banner

A banner, featuring two cherubs, torches, and a shield.

"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;&mdash;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,…

"Baron and femme, two atchievements. First, azure, a pile or, crest a star of six points, argent; second, gules, a cross flory argent, surmounted by an earl's coronet: supporters, on the dexter side a stag ducally gorged and chained, on the sinister side a griffin gorged and chained; motto, Honour and Truth. If a peeress in her own right, or the daughter of a peer, marries a private gentleman, their coats of arms are not conjoined paleways, as baron and femme, but are placed upon separate shields by the side of each other; they are usually inclosed in a mantel." -Hall, 1862

Baron and Femme

"Baron and femme, two atchievements. First, azure, a pile or, crest a star of six points, argent; second,…

"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…

"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…

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…

"Argent, a battering ram proper. BATTERING RAM. An instrument used for battering down walls before gunpowder was known in Europe: it is frequently borne as a charge in a coat of arms." -Hall, 1862

Battering Ram

"Argent, a battering ram proper. BATTERING RAM. An instrument used for battering down walls before gunpowder…

"Argent, three battle axes gules two over one. BATTLE AXE. An ancient military weapon, frequently borne on arms as a mark of prowess." -Hall, 1862

Battle Axe

"Argent, three battle axes gules two over one. BATTLE AXE. An ancient military weapon, frequently borne…

"In the Brave Days of Old." &mdash;Bulfinch, 1897

Roman battle

"In the Brave Days of Old." —Bulfinch, 1897

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…

"Argent, a barrulet gules, belled with three bells proper. BELLED. Having bells." -Hall, 1862

Barrulet Belled

"Argent, a barrulet gules, belled with three bells proper. BELLED. Having bells." -Hall, 1862

"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…