Subordinary - A bearing not so common and of less importance than the ordinary, or honorable ordinary. According to one writer, any ordinary occupying less than one-fifth of the field is deemed a subordinary. Again, different writers place different bearings among the subordinaries. The following list, however, many recognized authorities agree on:
- Bordure Flanch
Fret Inescutcheon
Gyron Lozenge
Orle Tressure
Fusil Mascle
Rustre Roundel
Gutte Billet
Checky Voider
Subvertant - (sub-vert'-ant) Reversed; turned upside down; contrary to the natural position or usual way of bearing.
Subverted - [See SUBVERTANT.]
Succeedant - Succeeding or following one another.
Succession - Arms of Succession. The same as Feudal Arms, which see, under ARMS.
Sun - The sun is seen in heraldry occasionally. When represented as giving light, it is blazoned a sun radiant; when depicted with a human face, it is a sun in splendor, or a sun in his splendor. Louis XIV used it as his cognizance. Jean de la Hay bore "Argent, a sun in his splendor gules." Ralph de la Hay differenced this coat by bearing only a ray of the sun. John de Fontibus, Bishop of Ely, bore the sun, moon and seven stars.
Sunburst - A flag having a sun in splendor on a green field. This is said to have been the flag of the pagan Irish. It is frequently alluded to in Irish national poetry.
- "On the front ranks before,
Dathi the sunburst bore."
-Fate of King Dathi.
Supercharge - (-charj) 1. To place one figure upon another. 2. As a noun: One charge placed upon another charge; as, a rose upon a fesse.
Supported - Applied to a bearing that has another under it by way of support; as, a chief supported.
Supporter - A figure on each side of a shield, apparently supporting it. They may be men, beasts or birds -- sometimes real, sometimes fabulous, as the lion and unicorn in the arms of Great Britain.
The origin of the supporters is unknown. Some writers have set forth that they originated in the ceremonial bearing of the knightly shield to tournaments and jousts by squires. It is probable, however, that they arose from the ornaments of the seal engraver and became heraldic from the practice of quartering.
Supporters are now borne by all peers of Great Britain, Knights of the Garter, Knights Grand Cross of the Bath, Nova Scotia baronets and chiefs of Scottish clans, and are also borne by many municipalities and the principal mercantile companies of London.
Sur-aneree - A cross with double anchor flukes at each end.
Surcharged - One charge placed upon or within another.
Surgiant - The same as ROUSANT or RISING.
Surmounted - Partly covered. Said of an ordinary when it has another charge of a different tincture laid over it. When it is an animal which has a charge laid over it, the term used is debruised.
Surtont - (sur'-too) [French.] A shield of pretense; an inescutcheon placed upon a shield of arms. The arms of William III were so disposed of.
Suspectant - Looking upward. (The same as SPECTANT.)
Swallow - This bird, which is also known as the hirondelle, is an early bearing. One of the best known of the early examples is the arms of the Arundells of Wardour, who bore "Sable, six swallows argent."
Swan - The swan was the cognizance of the Bohuns. Sometimes it is borne whole, sometimes only the head, like the arms of the Guests. When gorged with a ducal coronet having a gold chain attached to it, it is called a cygney-royal.
Swift - The dolphin.
Sweep - The balista or engine anciently used for casting stones into fortresses.
Sword - The sword of heraldry is two handed.
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Sable to Shoveller
Sinister to Stopped
Subordinary to Sword
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