"""Schuppenfeh"". While each of these variations and some others exist in German heraldry, it is worth noting that even ermine is uncommon, vair is seldom found, and the others are rarer still. As in English heraldry, the names for the lines of division and variation are closely related with those of the corresponding ordinaries. The apparent exceptions to this rule, however, are that a shield divided ""per fess"" is simply termed ""geteilt"" (divided) and a shield divided ""per pale"" is termed ""gespalten"" (split). German heraldry (and with it, Nordic heraldry) does take a distinct approach to divisions of the field,"
"enhanced"". A shield may also be ""party per chevron reversed (inverted)"", which is like party per chevron except upside down. A section formed by two (straight) lines drawn from the corners of the chief to the point in base is called ""chaussé"" (shod), which must be distinguished from the ""pile"", the point of which does not reach the bottom of the shield. With arched or bent (French: """") lines it is called ""chaussé ployé"". One common reason for dividing the field in heraldry is for purposes of combining two or more coats of arms to express alliance, inheritance, occupation of"
"Division of the field In heraldry, the field (background) of a shield can be divided into more than one area, or subdivision, of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name (e.g. a shield divided in the shape of a chevron is said to be parted ""per chevron""). Shields may be divided this way for ""differencing"" (to avoid conflict with otherwise similar coats of arms) or for purposes of ""marshalling"" (combining two or more coats of arms into one), or simply for style. The lines that divide a shield may not always be"
"of the field into two contrasting tinctures. These are considered divisions of a shield, so the rule of tincture can be ignored. For example, a shield divided azure and gules would be perfectly acceptable. A line of partition may be straight or it may be varied. The variations of partition lines can be wavy, indented, embattled, engrailed, nebuly, or made into myriad other forms; see Line (heraldry). In the early days of heraldry, very simple bold rectilinear shapes were painted on shields. These could be easily recognized at a long distance and could be easily remembered. They therefore served the"
"""Rompu"", meaning ""broken"", is often applied to a chevron, where the center is usually broken and ""enhanced"" (brought to a sharper point than normal). Division of the field In heraldry, the field (background) of a shield can be divided into more than one area, or subdivision, of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name (e.g. a shield divided in the shape of a chevron is said to be parted ""per chevron""). Shields may be divided this way for ""differencing"" (to avoid conflict with otherwise similar coats of arms) or for purposes of"
"name. Line (heraldry) The lines of partition used to divide and vary fields and charges in heraldry are by default straight, but may have many different shapes. Care must sometimes be taken to distinguish these types of lines from the extremely unusual and non-traditional use of lines as charges, and to distinguish these shapes from actual charges, such as ""a mount [or triple mount] in base,"" or, particularly in German heraldry, different kinds of embattled from castle walls. In Scotland, varied lines of partition are often used to modify a bordure (or sometimes another ordinary) to difference the arms of"
"Field (heraldry) In heraldry, the background of the shield is called the "" field"". The field is usually composed of one or more tinctures (colours or metals) or furs. The field may be divided or may consist of a variegated pattern. In rare modern cases the field (or a subdivision thereof) is not a tincture, but is shown as a scene from a landscape, or, in the case of the 329th Fighter Group of the United States Air Force, blazoned as ""the sky proper"". Landscape fields are regarded by many heralds as unheraldic and debased, as they defy the heraldic"
"Line (heraldry) The lines of partition used to divide and vary fields and charges in heraldry are by default straight, but may have many different shapes. Care must sometimes be taken to distinguish these types of lines from the extremely unusual and non-traditional use of lines as charges, and to distinguish these shapes from actual charges, such as ""a mount [or triple mount] in base,"" or, particularly in German heraldry, different kinds of embattled from castle walls. In Scotland, varied lines of partition are often used to modify a bordure (or sometimes another ordinary) to difference the arms of a"
"and azure, in chief a pile vair and on a canton gules a bell argent, in base a ship with sails set argent on waves of the sea proper"". This heraldic language describes a shield that is divided in two horizontally (""party per fesse""). The top (""chief"") of the shield is silver (""argent""), and has a point-down triangle (""a pile"") with a repeating blue-and-white pattern that represents fur (""vair""). There is also a red square in the top corner (""a canton gules"") on which there is a silver bell. It is likely that the bell is an example here of"
"of the shield. In some cases, it is drawn so wide that it will look as though the shield is divided party per fess. There is a diminutive version of the chief, called a comble, but this does not occur in English and Scottish heraldry. A chief triangular can be found in French and English armory. This ordinary begins in the corners and extends to a point that is one quarter to one third the way down the shield. It is a complex line division variant of a chief. A chief enarched is drawn with a concave arch. There is"
"Bend (heraldry) In heraldry, a bend is a band or strap running from the upper dexter (the bearer's right side and the viewer's left) corner of the shield to the lower sinister (the bearer's left side, and the viewer's right). Authorities differ as to how much of the field it should cover, ranging from one-fifth (if shown between other charges) up to one-third (if charged alone). The supposed rule that a bend should occupy a maximum of one-third of the field appears to exclude the possibility of three bends being shown together, but contrary examples exist. Outside heraldry, the term"
"Bar (heraldry) In heraldry, a bar is an ordinary consisting of a horizontal band across the shield. If only one bar appears across the middle of the shield, it is termed a ""fess""; if two or more appear, they can only be called bars. Calling the bar a diminutive of the fess is inaccurate, however, because two bars may each be no smaller than a fess. Like the fess, bars too may bear complex lines (such as embattled, indented, nebuly, etc.). The diminutive form of the bar (narrower than a bar yet wider than a cottise) is the barrulet, though"
"Pale (heraldry) 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 of a band running vertically down the centre of the shield. Writers broadly agree that the width of the pale ranges from about one-fifth to about one-third of the width of the shield, but this width is not fixed. A narrow pale is more likely if it is ""uncharged"", that is, if it does not have other objects placed on it. If ""charged"", the pale is typically wider to allow room for"
"Pile (heraldry) In heraldry, a pile is a charge usually counted as one of the ordinaries (figures bounded by straight lines and occupying a definite portion of the shield). It consists of a wedge emerging from the upper edge of the shield and converging to a point near the base. If it touches the base, it is blazoned ""throughout"". Though the pile issues from the top of the shield by default, it may be specified as issuing from any other part of the edge or as extending from edge to edge of the shield. Although it is not supposed to"
"considered a charge in English heraldry and is considered layered atop the field. Shields may also be divided into three parts: this is called ""tierced"", as in ""tierced per pale, azure, argent and gules"" (though perhaps in English heraldry this is rarely if ever done, and the foregoing shield would be blazoned — as the pale is supposed to be one-third of the width of the field and is always so depicted under these circumstances — ""per pale azure and gules, a pale argent."" but Scottish heraldry does use 'tierced in pale' (e.g. Clackmannan county (now Clackmannanshire) has ""Or; a"
"Fess In heraldry, a fess or fesse (from Middle English ""fesse"", from Old French, from Latin ""fascia"", ""band"") is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary, ranging from one-fifth to one-third. The ""Oxford Guide to Heraldry"" states that earlier writers including Leigh, Holme, and Guillim favour one-third, while later writers such as Edmondson favour one-fifth ""on the grounds that a bend, pale, or chevron occupying one-third"
"Orle (heraldry) In heraldry, an orle is a subordinary consisting of a narrow band occupying the inward half of where a bordure would be, following the exact outline of the shield but within it, showing the field between the outer edge of the orle and the edge of the shield. An orle can sometimes be confused with an ""inescutcheon or escutcheon voided"" (a smaller shield with a shield-shaped hole), or with a patch of the field left over between a bordure and an inescutcheon. Orles may varied by any of the lines of variation. Discrete charges arranged in the position"
"respectant, the hands of the innermost arms clasped, with upper arm, inner wrist, waist and knee bands argent; and a narrow border of red ochre (Republic of South Africa). Bordure In heraldry, a bordure is a band of contrasting tincture forming a border around the edge of a shield, traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself. It is sometimes reckoned as an ordinary and sometimes as a subordinary. A bordure encloses the whole shield, with two exceptions: Like any ordinary or other charge, a bordure may be of a single plain tincture or divided. Like any ordinary, it may"
"Bordure In heraldry, a bordure is a band of contrasting tincture forming a border around the edge of a shield, traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself. It is sometimes reckoned as an ordinary and sometimes as a subordinary. A bordure encloses the whole shield, with two exceptions: Like any ordinary or other charge, a bordure may be of a single plain tincture or divided. Like any ordinary, it may be smooth or subjected to any of the lines of variation; it may form a field for other charges. These variations are effectively exploited in the Scottish system of"
"armory, with only rare exceptions; although generally observed in continental heraldry, it is not adhered to quite as strictly. Arms which violate this rule are sometimes known as ""puzzle arms"", of which the most famous example is the arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, consisting of gold crosses on a silver field. The field of a shield, or less often a charge or crest, is sometimes made up of a pattern of colours, or ""variation"". A pattern of horizontal (barwise) stripes, for example, is called ""barry"", while a pattern of vertical (palewise) stripes is called ""paly"". A pattern of diagonal"
"the objects drawn there. The pale is one of the ordinaries in heraldry, along with the bend, chevron, fess, and chief. There are several other ordinaries and sub-ordinaries. The word ""pale"" originally referred to a picket (a piece of wood much taller than it is wide such as is used to build a picket fence) and it is from the resemblance to this that the heraldic pale derives its name. A pale may be ""couped"" (""cut off"" at either end, and so not reaching the top or bottom of the shield); however, while other charges if couped at the top"
"on a bend, by default it is shown bendwise. A shield party per bend (or simply ""per bend"") is divided into two parts by a single line which runs in the direction of a bend. Applies not only to the fields of shields but also to charges. Bendy is a variation of the field consisting (usually) of an even number of parts, most often six; as in the coat of the duchy of Burgundy. Analogous terms are derived from the bend sinister: ""per bend sinister"", ""bendwise sinister"", ""bendy sinister"". Bend (heraldry) In heraldry, a bend is a band or strap"
"more parts may be specified. Gyron A gyron is a triangular heraldic ordinary having an angle at the fess point and the opposite side at the edge of the escutcheon. A shield divided into gyrons is called gyronny, the default is typically of eight if no number of gyrons is specified. The word ""gyron"" is derived from Old French ""giron"", meaning 'gusset'. Another term for a single gyron is esquire. The gyron rarely appears singly, but as a variation of the field, gyronny coats appear frequently. These most often appear as eight roughly equal parts, but occasionally a coat gyronny"
"(""bretessée""), ""indented"" (""denchée""), ""invected"" (""cannelée""), ""wavy"", (""ondée""), ""raguly"" (""écotée""), ""dancetty"" or ""dantelly"" (""denché"", ""émanchée""), and so on), or their tincture (they may be ""party"", or ""chequy, compony, counter-compony, fretty, trellised, vair maçonnée"" and so on). A plain heraldic cross is a Greek cross, with four arms of equal length which meet in the fesse-point (center) of the shield. Due to the pointed shape of the shield, however, the horizontal bar is generally shorter than the vertical if the cross arms are drawn as extending to the border of the field, resulting in a Latin cross. Flags with crosses are recorded"
"Pall (heraldry) A pall (or pairle) is a Y-shaped heraldic charge, normally having its arms in the three corners of the shield. An example of a pall placed horizontally (fesswise) is the green portion of the Flag of South Africa. A pall that stops short of the shield's edges and that has pointed ends to its three limbs is called a shakefork, although some heraldic sources do not make a distinction between a pall and a shakefork. A pall standing upside down is named ""pall reversed"". A pall on a shield may indicate a connection with the clergy, particularly archbishoprics,"
"Gyron A gyron is a triangular heraldic ordinary having an angle at the fess point and the opposite side at the edge of the escutcheon. A shield divided into gyrons is called gyronny, the default is typically of eight if no number of gyrons is specified. The word ""gyron"" is derived from Old French ""giron"", meaning 'gusset'. Another term for a single gyron is esquire. The gyron rarely appears singly, but as a variation of the field, gyronny coats appear frequently. These most often appear as eight roughly equal parts, but occasionally a coat gyronny of six, ten, twelve or"
"Ordinary (heraldry) In heraldry, an ordinary (or honourable ordinary) is a simple geometrical figure, bounded by straight lines and running from side to side or top to bottom of the shield. There are also some geometric charges known as subordinaries, which have been given lesser status by some heraldic writers, though most have been in use as long as the traditional ordinaries. Diminutives of ordinaries and some subordinaries are charges of the same shape, though thinner. Most of the ordinaries are theoretically said to occupy one-third of the shield; but this is rarely observed in practice, except when the ordinary"
"Irish authorities have permitted a traditional shield under certain circumstances, and in Canadian heraldry the shield is now regularly granted. The whole surface of the escutcheon is termed the field, which may be plain, consisting of a single tincture, or divided into multiple sections of differing tinctures by various lines of partition; and any part of the field may be ""semé"", or powdered with small charges. The edges and adjacent parts of the escutcheon are used to identify the placement of various heraldic charges; the upper edge, and the corresponding upper third of the shield, are referred to as the"
"stripes may be called ""bendy"" or ""bendy sinister"", depending on the direction of the stripes. Other variations include ""chevrony"", ""gyronny"" and ""chequy"". Wave shaped stripes are termed ""undy"". For further variations, these are sometimes combined to produce patterns of ""barry-bendy"", ""paly-bendy"", ""lozengy"" and ""fusilly"". Semés, or patterns of repeated charges, are also considered variations of the field. The Rule of tincture applies to all semés and variations of the field. The field of a shield in heraldry can be divided into more than one tincture, as can the various heraldic charges. Many coats of arms consist simply of a division"
"shield a Red scroll turned Silver inscribed “PRO PATRIA” in silver letters. The shield of vair represents the allocation of the Regiment to southern New York, as fur constituted a great part of the early trade of this state. Vair originated from the fur of a kind of squirrel (the vair) which was bluey-gray upon the back and white underneath. The red chief is for Artillery and the nebuly partition line is the heraldic symbol for clouds, the field of antiaircraft fire. The motto translates to ""For Country"". The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 212th Coast Artillery"
"Division (Light). A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Or, on a bend Gules, three alerions of the field, in dexter base a six-pointed mullet of the second. On a sinister canton of the like a winged centaur courant with bow and arrow Argent. Above the shield on the wreath Or and Gules, a lion rampant Sable, grasping in his dexter paw a six-pointed mullet Gules. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Red scroll inscribed “ON TIME” in Gold letters. The 11th Field"
"Crest (heraldry) A crest is a component of a heraldic display, consisting of the device borne on top of the helm. Originating in the decorative sculptures worn by knights in tournaments and, to a lesser extent, battles, crests became solely pictorial after the 16th century (the era referred to by heraldists as that of ""paper heraldry""). A normal heraldic achievement consists of the shield, above which is set the helm, on which sits the crest, its base encircled by a circlet of twisted cloth known as a torse. The use of the crest and torse independently from the rest of"
"on a Mount Vert a Raven as in the Arms. Motto: ""Pro Patria Dimicans"". The blazon (heraldic description) means that the shield is divided per chevron, the upper part being purple (Purpure) and the lower gold (Or). Celestial crowns have eight points of which five are conventionally shown in the illustration, each point ending in a star. They are ""of the last"" tincture mentioned, that is, gold, and are arranged horizontally (fessewise). At the top of the shield (in chief) is a golden cross with each limb ending in a fleur de lis (flory), and at the base of the"