Sinister - (sin'-is-ter) The left side of the shield - the side opposite the the right hand of the spectator. Applied to the escutcheon, as the sinister chief point, sinister base point, etc.
Sinople - (sin'-o-pl) The Continental term for vert (green).
Slashed - A term used to describe the opening or gashings in a sleeve when the puffing is of a different tincture. It is then slashed of a different tincture.
Slipped - Applied to a flower or branch depicted as torn from the stalk.
Snowdown - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Soarant - A word used by some modern heraldic writers as a synonym of VOLANT.
Sol - A term implying or (gold) in blazoning the arms of sovereign princes. Using the planets in blazoning the arms of emperors, kings and princes arose in the sixteenth century through the foolish fancy of some heraldic writers, as did the use of precious stones for the arms of peers.
Somerset - One of the heralds of the College of Arms.
Soustenu - (soos'-ten-u) A chief apparently supported by a small part of the escutcheon beneath it of a different tincture from the chief itself, and reaching, as the chief does, from side to side; being, so to speak, a small part of the chief of another color, and supporting the real chief.
Sounenu - [See SOUSTENU.]
Spade iron - The iron part, or shoeing, of a spade.
Spancelled - (span'-seld) Said of a horse that has the fore and hind feet fettered by means of fetterrlocks fastened to the ends of a stick.
Spayade - (spa'-yade) A stag in his third year.
Spear - The spear was an ancient instrument of war and hunting, and was introduced into heraldry under various forms. Generally called a lance.
Spear head - The metal point of the spear: a common bearing among the Welsh.
Speckled - Spotted; speckled over with another tincture.
Spectant - (spek"-tant) The attitude of an animal looking upward with nose bendwise. Also applied to an animal at gaze, or looking forward. (Sometimes called in full aspect.)
Speller - A branch shooting out from the first part of a buck's horn at the top.
Sperver - A tent.
Splendor - Glory; brilliance. Said of the sun when represented with a human face and environed with rays. It is then a Sun in splendor.
Spread eagle - An eagle having the wings and legs extended on both sides. [See DISPLAYED.]
Springing - Leaping. Applied to beasts of the chase in the same sense as saliant to beasts of prey. Also applied to fish when placed in bend.
Spur rowel - The mullet is often called a spur rowel, which it is supposed to represent. However, the mullet was in use long before the rowelled spur.
Stainand - (stain'-and) Applied to the sanguine and tenne when used in the figures called abatements -- marks of disgrace.
Standard - A flag or ensign. The ancient military standard consisted of a symbol carried on a pole, like the Roman eagle. In medieval times the standard, instead of being square like the banner, was elongated, but much larger, becoming narrow and rounded at the end, which was slit, unless the standard belonged to a prince of the blood royal. The standard, which ranged in size from eleven yards for an emperor to four yards for a baron, was usually divided into three portions - one containing the arms of the knight, another for his cognizance or badge, and the other for his crest - these being divided by bands, on which was inscribed his war cry or motto, the whole being fringed with his livery or family colors.
- "Knights bannerets are made in the field, with the
ceremonie of cutting of the point of his standard, and making it
as it were a banner." - Smith: Commonwealth, bk. i, chap.
xviii.
The English royal standard of today is properly a banner, being square, with its entire field covered solely by the national arms.
Star - An estoile. It differs from the mullet in that it usually has six rays wavy, and is seldom pierced. When more than six points are displayed, the number must be specified. Usually, when more than six, the points alternate straight and wavy.
Statant - (stay'-tant) Standing. (The same as pose.)
Stone bill - A wedge.
Stopped - [See EMBATTLED.]
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Sable to Shoveller
Sinister to Stopped
Subordinary to Sword
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