Champain - (Cham'-pain) A mark of dishonor in the coat of arms of one who has killed an opponent after he has asked for quarter.
Chancellor - A functionary in an order of knighthood. For example, the Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, who acts in the capacity of secretary of that order.
Chapeau - (shap'-o) A cap of state borne by a duke.
Chaperon - (shap'-er-on) An ornamental hood worn by the Knights of the Garter when in full dress.
Chaperonnet - (shap-er-on'-net) A small hood.
Chapournet - (shap-our'-net) A chaperonnet borne in arms dividing the chief by a bow-shaped line.
Chaplet - A garland or wreath; a head band of leaves borne in coats of arms in token of great military prowess. The chaplet made its first appearance in the roll of Edward II.
Charge - To place upon an escutcheon.
Charge - Anything occupying the field in an escutcheon. There are two kinds of charges - proper and common.
Proper Charges - So called because they peculiarly belong to the art of heraldry. [See ORDINARY.]
Common Charges - Those charges which have been imported into heraldry from all quarters, representing an array of objects, natural and artificial, from reptiles and insects to human being and celestial figures.
- "The charge is that which is borne upon the color, except
it be a coat divided only by partition." - Peacham.
Charged - A charge placed upon the field.
Chausse - (sho'-say) This term denotes a section in base formed by a line from the extremity of the base ascending to the side of the escutcheon, joining it at about the base point.
Checky - (check'-y) A field divided into small squares, of different tinctures, resembling a chess board. Usually made up of seven squares in the top line, and in depth according to the length of the shield.
Checquy - [See CHECKY]
Chess-rook - A bearing which resembles the rook, or castle, in chess.
Chester - One of the heralds of the College of Arms.
Cheval Trap - [See CALTHROP.]
Chevalier - (shev'-a-lier) A horseman armed at all points.
Chevron - (shev'-ron) - One of the honorable ordinaries. It is rafter shaped, and its breadth is one-fifth of the field. Its diminutives are the Chevronel, which is one-fifth of its breadth; and the Couple-close, one-quarter.
Chevron Couped - Applied to a chevron which does not reach the sides of an escutcheon.
Chevron in Chief - One which rises to the top of the shield.
Chevronel - (shev'-ron-el) A diminutive of the chevron, being half its breadth.
Chevrounne - [See CHEVRONNY.]
Chevronny - (shev'-ron-ny) A shield laid out in partitions chevronwise.
Chief - The head or upper part of the shield, containing a third of the field, and is divided off by one line, either straight or crenellé (indented). When one chief is borne upon another it is called surmounting.
In Chief - Anything borne in the chief.
On Chief - When the chief is charged with anything.
Chief Point - The uppermost part of the shield, and can be either dexter, middle or sinister.
Chimæra - (ki-me'-ra) A modification of some existing animal, such as the winged lion of St. Mark, the dragon, etc.
Cough - (shuff) [See AYLET.]
Cinquefoil - (sink'-foil) A five pointed leaf; usually borne without a stem.
Clarenceux - (Clar'-en-saw) The title of the second King-of-Arms. He ranks next to Garter.
Clarion - (klar'-i-un) An instrument somewhat resembling a trumpet. The clarion borne by Granville, however, resembles the pan-pipe.
Cleche - (clay'-shay) A cross charged with another of the same design, but having the same color as the field, leaving only a narrow border of the first cross visible. (Can be used of other bearings.) [Compare with VOIDED.]
Clouee - (klu'ay) [French.] Said of the fretty when nailed at the joints.
Close - The wings of a bird close to the body.
Closed - Applied to a bird borne with wings folded close to the body.
Closet - A diminutive of the bar, being one-quarter the breadth of that bearing.
Closeted - Inclosed within closets; supplied with closets.
Coambulant - Walking together.
Coat - Coat of arms, Coat-Armor, Cote-Armure, etc. - Originally armorial bearings were embroidered on the surcoat of the wearer. The term is now used for the escutcheon, or shield, when arms are displayed. [For further information on coats of arms see ARMS.]
Cock - This fowl is generally borne as a crest, but occasionally appears on the shield. When the beak, comb, wattles and spur are given, he is said to be beaked, wattled (or jewlapped) and armed.
Find another term:
Cabled to Champ
Champain to Cock
Cockatrice to Coronet
Cost to Crest
Crined to Cygnet royal
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