Difference - Some figure or mark added to a coat of arms to distinguish one family from another. Modern marks of difference, or Marks of Cadence are:
- Label
- Crescent
- Mullet
- Martlet
- Annulet
- Fleur-de-lis
- Rose
- Cross Moline
- Octofoil
Differenced - Marked or distinguished by a difference.
Dimidiate - (di-mid'-i-ate) To represent the half of any charge.
Dimidiation - [See DIMIDIATE.]
Diminution - (di-mi-nu'-shon) The defacing of some particular point in an escutcheon.
Diminutive - (di-min'-u-tive) Something smaller than the regular size; on a smaller scale. For instance, the diminutive of the Bend is the Bendlet, being half its width.
Dingwall - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court. Scotland.
Disarmed - Applied to a bird or beast deprived of claws, teeth or beak.
Disclosed - A term used to describe a bird when its wings are spread open on each side, but the points downward.
Disclosed Elevated - The same as disclosed, except that the points are elevated.
Dismembered - Applied to birds having neither feet nor legs; also, to animals whose members are separated.
Displayed - Said of any bird of prey borne erect, with the wings expanded. Applied especially to the eagle.
Distillatory - (dis-til'-la-tory) A charge borne by the Distillers' Company, and usually blazoned: "A distillatory double armed, on a fire, with two worms and bolt receivers." (Ogilvie.) The distillatory is an apparatus used for distillation.
Disveloped - (dis-vel'-opd) Displayed, as a standard or colors when open and flying. (Universal Dict.)
Dog - The dog figures in heraldry in various forms and under different names. The alaund, or hunting dog, seems to have been the most popular. Lord Dacre used it as a supporter. Henry VIII had his arms and badge placed on the collars of his hunting dogs. In the brass of Sir Brian Stapleton at Ingham the knight rests his foot on a dog. The earls of Shrewsbury use the talbot, or mastiff, to support their shield. Burton of Falde bore three talbot's heads erased or, while Mauleverer of Allerton Mauleverer had three greyhounds on his shield.
The dog is generally blazoned as a talbot.
Dolphin - (dol'-fin) The dolphin is heraldically a fish, irregardless of what it may be zoologically or astronomically. When used as a charge it may be extended and natant or hauriant, etc. Fishacre of Fishacre bore "Gules, a dolphin natant argent." The dolphin was the emblem of the Dauphins of France. [See also DAUPHIN.]
Dominion - [See Arms of Dominion, under ARMS.]
Dormant - In a sleeping posture.
Dorsed - The same as AVERSANT.
Doubling - The lining of robes of state; also the mantlings borne around the achievement of arms.
Dragon - The dragon is of ancient date and played a prominent part in early romance, though little used in English heraldry. He is usually depicted with four legs and wings, a long barbed tail, usually knotted, and a body protected by scales. When the dragon is drawn without wings he is called a lindworm; without feet, a serpent; when he hangs by the head, it represents a conquered dragon.
Dragonnee - (dra-gon'-nay) A fabulous beast, the upper part resembling a lion, and the lower part the wings and tail of a dragon.
Drops - The same as GUTTEES.
Dublin - One of the heralds of the Office of Arms, Ireland.
Ducal coronet - The head attire of a duke, consisting of a circle of chased gold, with eight strawberry leaves on its upper edge, a cap of crimson velvet, terminating at the top with a gold tassel. When a coronet is used in a crest it is generally the ducal.
Duke - The highest rank in the peerage of Great Britain.
Dwale - (dwal) The tincture sable, or black, when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.. (Webster.)
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