Barry - (Bar'-ry) The division of the field by horizontal lines into a certain number of equal parts.
Barry Bendy - Signifies a field divided bendwise, the tinctures being counterchanged.
Barry Bendy Sinister - A combination of barry and bendy sinister.
Barry Bendy Dexter and Sinister - A combination of barry and bendy dexter and sinister. (Sometimes called barry lozengy.)
Barry Lozengy - The same as barry pily.
Barry Pily - Divided into an equal number of pieces by piles placed horizontally across the shield.
Bars gemel - (jem'-el) Two horizontal bars on a field close to each other; a pair of bars.
Barwise - Arranged horizontally in two or more rows.
Base - The lower part of a shield. Specifically, the width of a bar parted off from the lower part of the shield by a line horizontally drawn. (Sometimes called basc-bar, baste and plain point.)
Base-bar - [See BASE.]
Basilisk - (Bas'-i-lisk) A fabulous animal which was believed to be so deadly that even its breath was fatal to those who came near it. It somewhat resembled the Cockatrice, differing, however, in that it had two heads, the second being at the extremity of its tail. This additional head is the cause of it sometimes being called AMPHISIEN COCKATRICE.
Basket - A winnowing basket.
Baston - [See BATON.]
Bat - The bat figures to some extent in heraldry, often called a reremouse.
Bath - Order of the Bath. An English order of knighthood, which was instituted by Henry IV in 1399, and revived by George I in 1725. It derives its name from the fact that candidates for initiation were required to bathe the night before investiture.
Baton - (Bat'-on) The Baton, or, more fully, the Baton Sinister, is a diminutive of the bend sinister, of which it is one-fourth the width. It is a rare bearing, and generally denotes illegitimacy. Sometimes, though erroneously, called a fissure.
Battering-ram - A bearing representing the engine used in ancient times to beat down the walls of besieged places. It was a large beam, with a head of iron, sometimes made to resemble the head of a ram. The battering ram is borne by the Earls of Lindsey.
Battle-axe - A weapon like an axe, formerly used in battle, hence it became conspicuous in heraldry.
Battled - (Bat'-tled) A chief, chevron, fesse, etc., borne on one side in the form of the battlements of a castle.
Battled-embattled - [See GRADY.]
Beaked - When the beak and legs of a bird are of a different tincture from the body it is said to be beaked and membered of that tincture.
Bear - The bear is one of the beasts of heraldry. Early examples are the arms of Beresford and of Fitz Urse.
Bearer - The supporter of a shield or an escutcheon.
Bearing - A charge; any single charge or emblem included within an escutcheon. (Generally used in the plural, as "armorial bearings.")
Beauseant - (Bo'-ze-aunt) The banner borne by the Knights Templar in the thirteenth century. It was of cloth, sable and argent.
Bebally - A word used by some of the old writers for party per pale. (Parker: Gloss. of Her.)
Beeque - [See BEQUE.]
Bee - Sometimes made use of in heraldry. Sir Robert Peel used bees in his arms, and so did Sir Richard Arkwright.
Belie - (Bel'-ie) A term sometimes used for gules. (Universal Dict.)
Bell - Church bells have been made use of in heraldry, though not frequently. The same can be said of hawks' bells.
Belled - When a falcon or hawk has bells affixed to its legs it is said to be belled.
Belt - A badge of knighthood.
Find another term:
Bachelor to Barrully
Barry to Belt
Bend to Bitted
Black to Blue Mantle
Boar to Bute
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