32 COATS OF ARMS. 



Cleche. — A kind of cross, charged with another cross of the 



same figure, but of the color of the field. 

 Coat of Arms. — A device or assemblage of devices supposed 



to be painted on a shield, which is called the field. 

 Compart'ments.— Partitions and quarterings of the escutcheon. 

 Contourne. — An epithet for a beast standing or running with 



his face to the sinister side. 

 Counterpas'sant. — Two lions represented as going contrary 



ways. 

 Coupe. — The head or an}' limb of an animal cut off smooth from 



the trunk. 

 Cou'rant. — An epithet for any beast represented in a running 



attitude. 

 Cres'cent. — An honorable ordinary often used as a mark of dis- 

 tinction for the second sons of families, or those descended 



from them. When the horns are turned toward the chief 



or upper part of the shield, it is called crescent ; when to 



the right, increscent ; and when to the left, decrescent. 

 Crest. — The plume of feathers, or other object, on the top of 



the ancient helmet. 

 Dancette'. — The outline of any bordure or ordinary, very 



largely indented. 

 Degra'ded. — An epithet in blazoning for a ci'oss that has steps 



at each end. 

 Dem'y. — Any charge that is borne half: as, a demy-lion, or 



half-lion. 

 Descent'. — A term to express coming down : as, " a lion in 



descent," t.c, a lion with his heels upwards, as though in 



the act of leaping down from an eminence. 

 Dex'ter, — The right, or on the right hand or side. 

 Dismembered.— An epithet for birds that have neither feet 



nor legs ; also for lions and other animals whose members 



are separated. 

 Display 'ed. — An eagle, or any other bird, when it is erect, 



with its wings expanded or spread out. 

 Dragonnee. — The term for a lion or other beast whose upper 



half resembles a lion, etc., but the lower the hinder parts 



of a dragon. 

 Dor'mant. — In a sleeping posture. 



Empale'ment. — A conjunction of coats of arms palewise. 

 Enclave. — Something let into another, especially when the 



piece so let in is square. 



