A
Annulet: A plain ring, but “STONED” if it has a jewel on its upper edge.
Argent: Silver, but nearly always shown as white.
Armed: Of beaks, talons,claws (see LION); in armour.
As Many: The same as the last mentioned number.
Azure: Blue.

B
Barbed: Of the sepals ( green if “PROPER” ) appearing between the outer edges of the petals of a ROSE; of the head of an arrow.
Base: The lower part of a FIELD; An ORDINARY occupying the lower part
( approx. one forth ) of a FIELD. ( See also IN BASE ).
Beaked: Of a tincture of a birds’ beak.
Belled: Of the bells on a falcon’s leg.
Bend: A diagonal band from DEXTER CHIEF to SINISTER BASE. ( See also IN BEND and PER BEND )
Bend Sinister: A diagonal band from SINISTER CHIEF to DEXTER BASE
Bordure: A broad band at and along the outer edges of a FIELD.

C
Canton: An ORDINARY of square shape ( but smaller than a QUARTER ) in the upper DEXTER corner.
Cap of Dignity: Cap of Maintenance; Cap of State: DUCAL CAP.
Charge: An object on a shield.
Charged: With a CHARGE on it.
Chequy: Divided vertically and horizontally into small squares of two alternate TINCTUREs, except on a CHEVRON, a BEND, a BEND SINISTER, and a SALTIRE in which case the dividing lines are usually parallel to and at right angles to the edges of those ordinaries. ( See also COMPONY )
Chessed: JESSED.
Chevron: An ORDINARY shaped like an inverted V.
Chief: The upper part of a FIELD; AN ORDINARY occupying the upper part ( approx. one third ) of a FIELD. ( See also IN CHIEF ).
Cinquefoil: A figure having five leaves or petals.
Compartment: A mound on which the Supporters of the shield can stand, it is usually consistent with the arms’ design – frequently a grassy knoll, but also a pebbly beach, sea waves or brickwork. Examples:

Compony: Where an ORDINARY is divided into areas ( in a single row ) of two TINCTURES alternately. When in two rows, it is “Counter compony” When in three or more rows, it is CHEQUY.
Conjoined: Joined.
Contourné; Contourny: Turned to face the SINISTER.
Couché: On a slant.
Countercharged: Where the FIELD is divided into two TINCTURES and the CHARGES
( or parts thereof ) laid on it have their tinctures reversed.
Counter Compony: ( See COMPONY ).
Counterflory; Counterflowered: FLORY COUNTERFLORY.
Counter quartered: Where a QUARTER is itself QUARTERLY.
Couped: Cut off cleanly.
Crescent: A stylised crescent moon with points upwards.
Crest: In the 12th/13th centuries a  at plate on edge was fitted to the top of the helm, possibly to resist the downward blow of a sword. Bearing a graphical device, the plate was cut to follow the outline of the device. Eventually it became the present three-dimensional model. Examples:

Cross: An ORDINARY consisting of a PALE and a FESS CONJOINED.
Cross crosslet: A CROSS, the limbs of which are COUPED and are themselves crossed. (See FITCHEÉ ).
Cubit arm: A human arm from the elbow to and including the hand.
Crown: A form of crest, or sometimes in place of the crest. Peers’ coronets refect their position: Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount and Baron. Examples:

D
Dexter: Right ( hand, paw, etc.); Right side ( from the point of view of the person behind the shield).
Displayed: ( of a bird ) with wings spread.
Double Tressure: Two TRESSURES, one inside the other.
Ducal cap: A Cap, usually red or purple, with an ERMINE TURNUP and two tails, and often with a tuft/tassel on top.
Ducal coronet: A coronet of four stylised strawberry leaves ( one complete leaf and two halves visible ) set on a rim. It does not imply ducal rank.

E
Eagle displayed: An eagle with wings outstretched.
Embattled: Resembling the battlements of a castle.
Endorsed: Back to back.
Engrailed: A scalloped edge of an ORDINARY, with its points outward from the ordinary.
Erased: Torn off roughly.
Erect(ed): Upright, with points, claws, etc. upward.
Ermine: A fur consisting of black, highly-stylised ermine tails ( “spots” ) on a white FIELD.
Erminois: ERMINE but with gold, not a white, FIELD.
Escutcheon: A shield.

F
Faced; Facing: ( See TURNUP ).
Fess: A horizontal band across the centre of a FIELD. ( See also IN FESS ).
Fess Point: The centre point of a FIELD.
Field: The surface of a shield, a QUARTER, or an ORDINARY. ( See also OF THE FIELD ).
Fifth, of the: ( SEE OF THE FIRST ).
First: the first ( DEXTER CHIEF ) QUARTER.
First, of the: ( SEE OF THE FIRST ).
Fitcheé: Where the lower limb of a CROSS CROSSLET is replaced by a point.
Flory counterflory: Decorated with fleurs-de-lys pointing in alternate directions.
Fouled: ( of an anchor ) Where the cable is entwined around the shaft.
Fourth: The fourth ( SINISTER BASE ) QUARTER.
Fructed: Bearing fruit.
Fusil: A narrow LOZENGE.

G
Galley: LYMPHAD.
Garb: A sheaf of wheat.
Glory: ( See SUN ).
Gorged: Collared.
Goutte: A droplet of liquid.
Grandquarter: One of the main QUARTERS where it is itself QUARTERED. ( See also COUNTER QUARTERED ).
Gyron: One of the parts of a GYRONNY FIELD.
Gyronny of eight: A FIELD divided both QUARTERLY and PER SALTIRE.
Gules: Red.

H
Heart: Shown in stylised form, as on a playing card.
Helm: Helmet (‘helm’) designs varied with the period. The rank of the arms’ owner governs both the type of helm and the direction it faces. Examples:

I
In base: In the lower part of a FIELD.
In bend: In the direction of a BEND; but in a crest, usually in the direction of a BEND SINISTER.
In chief: In the upper part of a FIELD.
Indented: A dividing line or edge of an ORDINARY consisting of small zigzags.
In fess: Horizontally, or arranged in a horizontal row.
Ingrailed: ENGRAILED.
In pale: Vertically, or arranged in a vertical row.
In saltire: In the form of a SALTIRE.
Invected: A scalloped edge of an ORDINARY, with its points in towards the ordinary ( sometimes “Invecked” ).
Issuant: Issuing.

J
Jessed: Having jesses ( leather straps fitted to the legs of falcon’s ).

L
Langued: Tongued. ( See LION ).
Last: ( See OF THE LAST ).
Leaved: Of the leaves of a plant or of a book.
Lion: A highly-stylised representation of the natural beast. Unless otherwise blazoned, a lion is depicted ARMED and LANGUED GULES, but if the LION or the FIELD on which it is placed is A GULES, the lion is depicted armed and langued AZURE.
Lozenge: The same shape as a diamond on a playing card.
Lymphad: An ancient ship, highly-stylised. Also called a “Galley”.
Lyon: LION.

M
Martlet: A bird resembling a house-martin, with its leg feathers but no legs.
Membered: Of the legs of a bird of prey.
Mount: A grassy hillock.
Mullet: A star shaped figure with five straight but tapering points, and (usually) no centre hole. ( See also SPUR REVEL, SPUR ROWEL, and STAR ).
Muzzled: Wearing a muzzel.
Mantling: Originally attached to the helm, a mantle or small cloak hung down the back probably as protection from the sun. It is now a decorative accessory displayed each side of the crest and shield and, like the torse, refects the tinctures of the arms: the principal colour on the outside and the principal metal on the lining. Examples:

Motto: MOTTOes, probably deriving from war cries, express pious hopes or sentiments and usually appear on a scroll above the crest in Scottish heraldry and, in English heraldry, beneath both the shield and any decorations, orders and medals hanging from it. They can use any language (often Latin and sometimes Scots Gaelic) and, since they are not included in the descriptive blazon, can be (but rarely are) changed by the arms’ owner. Examples:

N
Naiant: Swimming horizontally.

O
Of the field: Of the same TINCTURE as the FIELD.
Of the first, second, etc: Of the same TINCTURE as the first, second, etc. tincture mentioned ( within that QUARTER, if describing a QUARTERED shield).
Of the last: Of the same TINCTURE as the last previously mentioned tincture.
One, two and one: Arranged one above two above one.
Or: Gold, ( often represented by yellow ).
Ordinary: A basic geometric CHARGE, e.g. PALE, BEND, BEND SINISTER, FESS, CHEVRON, CROSS, CHIEF, BORDURE, SALTIRE, BASE, CANTON, etc.
Orleways: ( of branches ) Arranged around the sides of an object.

P
Pale: A vertical band down the centre of a FIELD. ( See also IN PALE and PER PALE ).
Paleways: Vertically.
Per bend: Divided from DEXTER CHIEF to SINISTER CHIEF.
Per pale: Divided vertically.
Per saltire: Divided into four parts by two diagonal lines. ( See also SALTIRE ).
Plate: A roundel ARGENT.
Proper: In natural or usual TINCTURE, but stylised, e.g. A HEART Proper is red.
Purpure: Purple.

Q
Quarter: One of the parts of a QUARTERED FIELD.
Quartered; Quarterly: A division of a FIELD by vertical and horizontal lines into four parts.
Quatrefoil: A figure having four leaves or petals.

R
Rampant: ( of a lion etc. ) Rearing up on its left hind leg.
Revel: ( See SPUR ).
Rising: ( of a bird ) Taking flight with wings open.
Rose: The stylised flower BARBED and SEEDED only, unless “SLIPPED” and/or “LEAVED”.
Rowel: ( See SPUR ).
Royal Tressure: DOUBLE TRESSURE FLORY COUNTERFLORY.

S
Sable: Black.
Saltire: An ORDINARY consisting of a BEND and a BEND SINISTER CONJOINED. ( See also IN SALTIRE and PER SALTIRE ).
Second: The second ( SINISTER CHIEF ) quarter.
Second, of the: ( See OF THE FIRST, SECOND etc. ) Seeded: Of the seeds ( the central part, gold if “PROPER” of a ROSE.
Shield: The shield, or escutcheon, has changed shape over the centuries but its surface (‘field’) has always been the area on which armorial bearings are usually displayed. Any decorations, orders or medals (except campaign medals) are displayed below the shield, suspended by their ribbons. The shape used is of personal choice. Examples:

Sinister: Left ( hand, paw, etc. ); Left side ( from behind the shield ). Slipped: (of a flower or plant ) With a stalk. Often shown as if torn from the main stem.
Spiked defence: ( Probably) A metal object ( with four spikes ) which when thrown to the ground would land with one spike upwards, the intention being to maim the horses’ hooves. Also called a “Caltrap”.
Spur revel; Spur rowel: A MULLET with a central circular hole.
Star: A MULLET with no central hole.
Stoned: ( Of an ANNULET ) Jewelled ( on its upper edge ).
Sun in his glory: The sun represented as a roundel with rays alternately straight and wavy.
Surmounted: Overlaid.

T
Third: The third ( DEXTER BASE )
Third of the: ( See OF THE FIRST, SECOND, etc. ).
Thistle: The stylised flower, calyx and stalk only, unless “LEAVED”.
Three, two, three and one: Arranged three above two above three above one.
Tincture: Any of the colours ( GULES, AZURE, SABLE, VERT PURPURE ) metals ( OR, ARGENT ) and furs ( ERMINE, etc. ).
Torse: Covering the join between the crest and the helm, the torse or wreath is a twisted strand of six folds, possibly originating as a lady’s favour (love token). It alternates the two principal tinctures (metal and colour) in the arms, the first fold on the dexter side (the viewer’s left) being of the arms’ metal tincture. Examples:

Trefoil: A figure having three leaves or petals and a stalk.
Tressure: A narrow band near the outer edge of a FIELD. (See also DOUBLE TRESSURE )
Turned up; Turn-up: Where the outer edge of a lining or facing of a CAP is turned up.

U
Undy: wavy.

V
Vert: Green.

W
Wreath: see TORSE