Pean - (peen) One of the furs. The ground is sable, with the spots or tufts or.
Pearl - The same as argent.
Pelican - (pel'-i-kan) While this bird is ocassionally seen in arms, it is more common as a crest. When represented as wounding herself, she is vulning; when feeding her young, in her piety. Pelham bore "Azure, three pelicans vulning themselves proper."
Pelican in her Piety - A pelican represented in the act of wounding her breast to feed her young with her own blood. This came from a fabulous tale in natural history told in the Middle Ages, and which made the bird the adopted symbol of the Redeemer.
Pellet - (pel'-let) A black roundel. (Also called ogress and gunstone.) [See also ROUNDEL.]
Penned - (pend) Having wings. (Applied to a hawk's lure.) [See LURE.]
Pennon - A small flag or streamer half the size of the guidon.
Per - By: by the means of: by way of.
Perclose - (per'-kloz) The lower part of the garter with the buckle, etc. (Also called the demi-garter.)
Perculaced - (per'-ku-last) The same as LATTICE.
Peregrine falcon - {See FALCON.]
Pheon - (fee'on) A bearing representing the head of a broad arrow or javelin, with long barbs which are engrailed on the inner edge.
The pheon was, like the modern mace, carried before royalty by a sergeant-at-arms. It became a royal mark, and is still used in Great Britain to denote crown property, being termed the Broad R, or broad arrow.
Pick - An instrument used in the chase; a spike; a pike.
Pierced - Applied to any bearing which is perforated so as to show the field under it.
Pike - A military weapon, consisting of a long, narrow lance head fixed to a pole. It was used by musketeers to repel cavalry.
Pile - One of the honorable ordinaries, having the form of a wedge, issuing from the chief, with the point ending with the lower point of the shield. When borne plain it contains one-third of the chief in breadth; when charged, two-thirds. The pile is a very early bearing, and its origin is obscure. It has no diminutives.
Per Pile - Applied to an escutcheon which is divided by lines in the form of the pile.
Plate - A roundel tinctured argent. [See also ROUNDEL.]
Plenitude - (plen'-i-tude) Fullness. When the moon is represented full it is described as "the moon in her plenitude."
Plie - The same as CLOSE.
Ploye - (Plwa-ye') Bowed and bent.
Poing - (pwán) The fist; the hand closed, as distinguished from apaumé.
Point - 1. One of the several parts denoting the local positions on the escutcheon of any figure or charges. The principal points are:
A. - Dexter Chief
B. - Middle Chief
C. - Sinister Chief
D. - Honor, or color
E. - Fesse (center)
F. - Nombril (navel)
G. - Dexter Base
H. - Middle Base
J. - Sinister Base
2. A small part of the base of a shield variously marked off.
Point in Point - When the base somewhat resembles the pile.
Pointed - Said of a cross when its ends are so cut; as, a cross pointed.
Pomey - (pom'y) A figure representing an apple; it is always of a green color. A roundel tinctured vert.
Pommee - (pom'-may') A cross having the ends terminating in single balls.
Pommette - (po'-may-tay) A cross having two balls or buttons at each end.
Pommeled - Having a pommel, as a sword or dagger.
Portant - The same as PORTATE.
Portate - (por'-tat) Borne bendwise; diagonally across the escutcheon. Example: A cross portate = a cross lying as if carried on a persons shoulder.
Portcullis - The same as LATTICE.
Portcullis - One of the pursuivants of the College of Arms.
Pose - (po'-zay) Said of a lion, horse or other beast when represented standing still, with all four feet on the ground.
Potence - (po'-tens) A cross having ends that resemble the head of a crutch.
Potent - (po'-tent) One of the heraldic furs, composed of patches, supposed to represent crutch heads; the color is usually argent and azure alternating. If otherwise, this should be specified. Potent is a variety of vair, and in early times was often blazoned "vair potent."
Counter Potent - A fur differing from potent only in the arrangement of the patches. (Also written potent counter-potent, potency counter-potency and potency in point.)
Potented - Applied to a bearing when the outer edges are T-shaped, or form into potents.
Powdered - The same as SEME.
Find another term:
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Pale to Pavon
Pean to Powdered
Prancing to Pye
Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry is in the public domain.
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