How To Describe Common Charges

Here's How:

1. Ordinaries are wide strips that follow common field partitions in shape. They take the name of their orientation and position; so a wide vertical stripe would be simply a Pale.
2. An ordinary that follows the shape of the shield in a border is a Bordure; one that follows the shield shape but is somewhat inset is an Orle.
3. Disks are Roundels. Some have names dependent on their tincture: A Bezant is or, a Plate is argent, a Torteau is gules, a Heurt is azure, a Pellet is sable, a Pomme is vert, a Golpe is purpure.
4. A circle (a disk outline) is an Annulet.
5. A star is a Mullet; if it has a hole in the center, it's a Mullet pierced; if it has six points, it's a Mullet of six points; if it has additional rays streaming from it, it's a Mullet irradiated.
6. A rectangle is a Billet; if its corners are rounded, it is a Cartouche.
7. A square is a Delf; if it is in the corner of the shield, it is a Canton.
8. A diamond is a Lozenge; if it appears in outline, it is a Mascle.
9. A small cross is a crosslet. If a cross of any size appears diagonally, it is a saltorel.
10. An arrow head is a Pheon.
11. A flower with five petals is a Cinquefoil.
12. A sheaf of wheat is a Garb.
13. A fish is more commonly called a Pike or a Luce.
14. When a small charge is repeated in a pattern of staggered rows, it is referred to as Semy or Powdered.
15. Just like partitions, ordinaries that are created with something other than straight lines have distinctive terms, including nebully and indented.

Tips:

1. Use an illustrated heraldic dictionary or glossary to help you identify the more unusual charges.