Cost - One of the subordinaries, being a diminutive of the bend. When borne in pairs, it is called Cottise.
Cotise - [See COTTISE.]
Cotised - [See COTTISED.]
Cottise - (cot'-tise) The same as COST.
Cottised - (cot'-tised) A term applied to ordinaries when borne between two cottises.
Couchant - (couch'-ant) Applied to an animal lying down, with head raised. This term differs from dormant in that in the latter sense the beast is represented sleeping.
Couche - (coo-shey') [French.] Said of anything lying sideways, as a chevron couche -- a chevron placed sideways.
Counter - In an opposite direction; contrary to the usual position. Sometimes used to denote an animal facing the sinister side of the shield. [In this sense see Contourné.]
Counter-Attired - Applied to the double horns of animals when borne two one way and two another -- in opposite directions.
Counter-Chevronne - Chevronny divided palewise. (Said of the field.) The equivalent of chevronné, of chevronny.
Counter-Compony - A border, bend, etc., which is composed of two rows of checkers of alternate tinctures.
Counter-Couchant - Animals borne couchant, their heads being in opposite directions.
Counter-Courant - Said of two animals borne courant, and with their heads in opposite directions.
Counter-Embattled - Applied to an ordinary embattled on both sides.
Counter-Ermine - The contrary of ermine, being a black field with white spots. {See ERMINES.]
Counter-Fleury - A term used to show that the flowers adorning an ordinary stand opposite to each other.
Counter-Passant - Applied to two animals borne passant going in contrary ways.
Counter-Potence - Said of potences when placed opposite each other.
Counter-Quartered - When each quarter of an escutcheon is again quartered.
Counter-Salient - Applied to two animals borne salient in opposite directions.
Counter-Trippant - Animals trippant in opposite directions.
Counter-Tripping - The same as Counter-Trippant.
Counter-Vair - A variety of vair, in which the cups or bells are arranged base to base and point to point.
Counter-Vairy - The same as Counter-Vair.
Counterchanged - A term which denotes that the field is of two tinctures, metal and color; that part of the charge which lies in the metal being of color, and that part which lies in the color being metal.
Counterpaled - A term used of an escutcheon which is divided into an equal number of pieces palewise by a line fesswise, the tinctures above and below the fess line being counterchanged.
Counterpointe - (-point-é) Made use of to describe two chevrons which meet with their points in the center of the shield, counter to each other. (The French use contrepointé.)
Couped - (koop'd) Said of an animal having the head or any limb cut clean off from the body. A head couped is a head having the appearance of being cut off with a sharp knife.
Couple-Close - One of the diminutives of the chevron, being one-quarter the breadth of that ordinary. It is borne in pairs, inclosing the chevron. (Sometimes written couple-closs.)
Couple-Closed - Inclosed by the couple-close; as, "A chevron couple-closed."
Courant - Running
Guide's Note: My copy of this document was missing a
definition for Courant. I have provided one from The
Oxford Guide to Heraldry.
Coward - Said of beasts represented with the tail between the legs.
Crampit - The cramp-iron of a scabbard.
Cramponee - (cramp-on'-ay) A cross having at each end a cramp or crampoon.
Crenellated - (cre'-nel-la-ted) An ordinary indented as with crenelles.
Crescent - A bearing resembling the half moon with the points turned up. When used as a mark of cadency it denotes the second son. When the points of the crescent face dexter it is increscent; toward sinister, decrescent.
Crest - Originally the crest was the ornament of the helmet, or headpiece, and also afforded protection against a blow. In the early rolls it was scarcely noticed, but in later armorial grants it came into general use. Crests, like arms, were sometimes allusive. Thus, Grey of Wilton used a gray, or badger, and Lord Wells a bucket and chain. In the early days of the crest it was confined to persons of rank, but in later times it has been included in every grant of arms.
A coronet or helmet below the crest is not a mark of rank.
Find another term:
Cabled to Champ
Champain to Cock
Cockatrice to Coronet
Cost to Crest
Crined to Cygnet royal
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