Heraldry

Royal corporation with authority to act on behalf of the Crown in matters of heraldry (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)		College of Arms
Head of the College of Arms: a hereditary post, held since 1672 (and periodically before then) by the Dukes of Norfolk		Earl Marshal

Chief herald in Scotland

Lord Lyon King of Arms

Colours

Sable		Black
Azure		Blue
Or		Gold
Vert		Green
Murrey		Purple or red
Gules		Red
Argent		Silver (or white)

Adjectives

These are the adjectives that are used to describe the attitudes of heraldic animals (the most familiar one being "standing on one hind leg" – see below)

Lying down		Couchant
Tail between legs		Coward
On all fours, walking across		Passant
Standing on one hind leg		Rampant
Looking back over one shoulder		Regardant
With head down		Urinant
Flying		Volant

Other

Tudor rose: number of lobes (or sets of petals)		5
Left hand side		Sinister
Right hand side		Dexter

Band running from the bearer’s top right to bottom left, on a shield		Bend
Band running from the bearer’s top left to bottom right (sometimes said to signify illegitimacy)		Bend sinister
The formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem		Blazon
A V–shaped mark (inverted, more often than not)		Chevron
Lozenge, or (less commonly) fusil, mascle or rustre, are different types of (shape)		Diamond
Broad horizontal stripe		Fesse
Background of a flag or shield		Field
Heraldic symbol (a stylised iris flower) originally associated with the French monarchy – later the Boy Scout movement		Fleur–de–lys
Urchin: country dialect (and heraldic) word for a		Hedgehog
A golden harp with silver strings, on a blue background ("Azure a harp Or, stringed Argent") is the coat of arms – formally adopted in 1945 – of		Ireland
Usual position of the crest		On the helmet
Britain's commonest pub sign – the Red Lion ' comes from the coat of arms of		John of Gaunt
Mythical bird similar to a swallow or swift (e.g. on the coat of arms of Sussex)		Martlet
Heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales		Ostrich feathers (3)
Broad vertical stripe running the length of a shield		Pale
A Y–shaped charge on a shield (also means a cloth used to cover a coffin, or a piece of stiffened linen used to cover the chalice at the Eucharist)		Pall
Diagonal cross (especially on the flag of Scotland)		Saltire
Escutcheon		Shield
Attires		Stag's antlers
Mullet		Star
Figures holding the shield at the sides, on a coat of arms		Supporters
Supporter that represents Scotland in the UK's Royal Coat of Arms (as opposed to the English lion)		Unicorn
Symbol chosen by Richard II to be worn by his knights		White hart
Two–legged dragon, with the tail of a serpent (ending in an arrow–head) – from the Anglo–Saxon word for a serpent		Wyvern

© Haydn Thompson 2017–19