Glossary
Medieval Heraldry A to Z - B
Designs, or coat of arms, were invented to help recognise one person from another. How far back this idea was first put into practice is not known but from the first half of the twelfth century (1100-1150) knights began to use designs on their flags and shields to identify themselves in battle and in tournaments. The designs commonly passed down from one generation to the next and became means of identifying an entire family and not just a single person. The term 'coat of arms' comes the the surcoat, a textile garment, that was worn over the armour and was decorated with the same design as the shield.
Basilisk
The Basilisk is a monster. Could also be a Cockatrice. It can be shown as a serpent or a two-legged dragon with a rooster's head, and sometimes a dragon's head on its tail.
Click shield to edit
Bar
The Bar is an ordinary similar to the Fess but narrower.
Multiple Bars can be placed on a shield unlike
the Fess where only one is allowed.
Click shield to edit Bar Gemel Bar gemels consist to two Bars placed close together.
Normally multiple are placed on the shield.
Click shield to edit Barry When the shield is dividied into several horizontal
Bars. Usually an even number.
Click shield to edit Barry of 8 Specify the number of Bars.
Click shield to edit Bee The humble bee is a symbol for industiousness.
Click shield to edit Bend A Bend is a band running from the upper left (dexter)
corner of the shield to the lower right (sinister).
The Bend covers a third of the shield.
Click shield to edit Bend Sinister A Bend sinister is a band running from the upper right
(sinister) corner of the shield to the lower left (dexter).
The Bend covers a third of the shield.
Click shield to edit Bendlet A smaller version of the Bend and can be placed more
than once on the shield.
Click shield to edit Bendy Covers the shields in many bendlets. The number can be
specified as shown here with a number of 8.
Click shield to edit Bezant (Roundel) A Roundel is a circular charge in heraldry.
Roundels are typically a solid colour and because they were so popular
roundels of certain colours were given names. The Bezant in medieval
times
was a gold coin so a yellow (Or) roundel is known as a Bezant.
Click shield to edit Blazon Blazon is a verbal or written description of the shield.
The decsription should be detailed
enough to allow an accurate recreation of the design. There are specific
rules as to how the shield is described. For example
the strict rule is not to repeat the name of a colour or number.
Click shield to edit Bordure A bordure is a band of contrasting colour (tincture)
that forms a border around the edge of a shield,
traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself. Click shield to edit Bordure Compony When an ordinary is described as compony it is made up of alternating
metal and colour, colour and fur or fur and metal. Compony can be used by an illegitimate
son who is acknowledged but barred from inheritance of heir's estates.
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