Macle - (mak'l) The same as MASCLE.
Majesty - A term used to describe an eagle crowned and holding a scepter.
Maltese cross - A cross formed of four arrow heads meeting at the points. It was the badge of the Knights of Malta, and its eight points are said to symbolize the eight beatitudes.
Man - The full human figure is a rare bearing, but can be seen occasionally. When displayed naked, he is salvage; when clothed, habited.
Manche - [See MAUNCH.]
Mantiger - (man'-ti-ger) A monster with the body of a lion or tiger and a human face, usually with a scorpion's tail and long spiral horns. (Also written Mantichor and Manticor.)
Mantle - The cloak or robe behind the shield, sufficiently large to include the entire arms. Those of sovereigns are of gold doubled with ermine, and are called pavilions.
Mantling - [See MANTLE.]
Marchmont - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Marcassin - (mar-kas'-sin) [French.] A young wild boar.
Marined - (ma-reend') An animal having the lower part of the body like a fish.
Marquis - A nobleman of England, ranking next below a duke.
Mars - The name of the color gules (red) on the arms of sovereign princes.
Marshal - To dispose or arrange in order such coats of arms as have to be included in one shield.
Marshaling - The act of arranging two or more coats on one shield.
Martlet - (mart'-let) A fanciful bird somewhat resembling a swallow, but having short tufts of feathers in the place of legs. When used as a difference it denotes the fourth son.
Mascle - (mas'-kl) A lozenge-shaped bearing, perforated or vioded. When used in numbers it becomes masculy.
Massacre - (mas'-sa-ker) When the antlers of a stag are attached to a fragnemt of the skull bone it is called a massacre.
Masoned - (ma'-sond) Applied to a field or charge which is divided with lines resembling a wall or building of stones.
Maul - A heavy wooden hammer.
Maunch - (maunsch) A bearing representing a sleeve with long hanging ends.
Membered - A term applied to a bird when its legs are of a different tincture from that of the bird itself.
Merchant's marks - Certain marks or bearings used by merchants of England such as the block and brush (butchers' broom) of the Butcher's Company; the distillatory, of the Distillers' Company, etc. They are not to be considered strictly heraldic, but were protected by law, and are occasionally seen on merchants' tombs and in architecture.
Merlon - [See EMBATTLED.]
Metal - [For the four metals of heraldry see under TINCTURE.]
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