Partitions are numerous and varied, but you'll be able to remember their descriptions more easily by keeping these preliminary definitions in mind. These apply no matter what shape the shield takes.
Difficulty Level: average Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:
- Chief refers to the top of the shield. Thus, a charge placed across the top of the shield would be described as "chief"; a charge placed in the top half of a field would be "in chief."
- Base refers to the bottom of the shield and is used similarly to Chief.
- Dexter and Sinister refer to the shield-bearer's right and left, respectively, so are reverse for an observer of the design.
- A single division into two equal segments is usually given no name, though sometimes it is referred to as "parti."
- Pale refers to a vertical division or charge. Thus, a single vertical division would be referred to as "per pale"; a vertically-aligned charge would be referred to simply as "pale" or "a pale."
- Fess refers to a horizontal division or charge.
- Bend refers to a diagonal division or charge leading from the upper left to the lower right.
- Bend Sinister refers to a diagonal division or charge leading from the upper right to the lower left.
- Tierce refers to a division of the field into three roughly equal segments. If the dividing lines assume the shape of a Y, the division is termed "tierced in pairle" or "tierced pallwise."
- Quarterly refers to four roughly equal segments, achieved by dividing the field per pale and per fess.
- Quarterly per saltire, or simply saltire, refers to four roughly equal segments, achieved by dividing the field per bend and per bend sinister.
- Gyronny refers to multiple segments achieved by dividing the field equally through the center like a pizza. It is followed by the number of segments, as in "gyronny of six."
- Stripes or bars may be described as paly when vertical, barry when horizontal, and bendy or bendy sinister when diagonal. This is sometimes followed by the number of segments, as in "paly of six."
- A segment can be divided into further segments, which are described individually.
- Divisions that are achieved with something other than straight lines have distinctive terms you'll need to look up, including wavy, nebully, indented, dovetailed, and embattled.
- Use an illustrated heraldic dictionary or glossary to help you identify the more unusual divisions.
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