420 
heraldry. 
.......wv,. partitions, varying in metal and colour. — 
Plate III fig. 35. In England tile number of divifions 
is always even, in other countries this is. not regarded ; 
but, when the number is uneven, they are called bendlets. 
Besantrd, or Bezante'e, means full of befants, and 
is ufed to denote a field, ordinary, or charge, covered 
more or lefs with befants. 
Besants, or Bezants, were the current coin of 
Byzantium, jnow Conftantinople, and fuppofed to have 
been introduced into coats of arms by thole who were 
at'the holy wars. Lat . bizantius nummtfs \ Vx.befant. 
Billets, oblong fquares, frequently met with in 
Englifh coats of arms. Lat. later cull ; Fr. billot's. 
Bili.etty, a fieldor charge ftrewed with billets. This 
expretfion is ufed in blazoning billets that exceed ten ; 
otherwilb their number and pofition.muft be expreffed. 
Blazon, to draw or exprefs in their proper colours 
all that belongs to coats of arms. 
Blazonry, the art of blazoning or deferibing pro¬ 
perly coats of arms. 
Bordure, an edging round the Ihicld, which fome- 
times, chiefly when wavy, ferves for the fame purpofe 
as the Baton, to indicate an illegitimate defcent. Lat. 
fimbria ; Fr. bordure. 
Boutonne', is laid of a crofs which terminates at 
each end in three buds or buttons. 
Braced, is applied to two figures of the fame fort, 
interlacing one another. 
Bretesse, a charge or ornament embattled on both 
fides. 
Caboshed, is faid of the head of beafts borne with¬ 
out any part Of the neck, and full-faced. 
Cannets, ducks, reprefented without any beak or 
feet. Lat . anates ; Fr. canncttes. 
Canton, the French word for corner : it is a fquare 
figure, placed at one of the upper angles of the fhield. 
See ?late IV. 
Chape, or Chappe, is faid of a field that has a cope 
of another tindfure, fpreading from a point in the middle 
of the chief, to the two bafe angles of the fliield. 
Chapeau, an ancient cap of dignity, formerly worn by 
nobility, made of crimfon velvet in the outlide, and 
lined with fur. - 
Charge, the figure or bearing contained in an efcut¬ 
cheon. Many charges in one field are not accounted fo 
honourable as a few. 
Charged, thields or ordinaries carrying fome figure, 
are faid to be charged therewith. 
Chausse', is laid of a fedtion in bafe. 
Checky, or Cheque', fmall fquares of two different 
tindlures, fpread alternately, over a field or ordinary. 
This is always compofed of metal and colour; and, ac¬ 
cording to La Colombiere) it is the moflnoble and ancient 
’figure borne in coats of arms by perfons that have dif- 
tinguifhed trremfelves in war ; for it reprefents a chefs- 
board, which is compared to a field of battle; the 
pawns, and other pieces placed on bothTides, reprefent- 
ing the foldiers o-f two armies, which move, attack, ad¬ 
vance, or retire, according to the will of the two play¬ 
ers, who may be conlidered as the generals: but this ac¬ 
count appears more fanciful than true. See defeription 
of Plate I. 
Chevele'e, denotes fireaming, as a flream of light dart¬ 
ing from a comet. Lat. comatus ; Fr. chevelue. 
Chevron, one of the honourable ordinaries. Lat. 
■ tigillum ; F r. chevron. 
Chevronel, a diminutive of the chevron. When 
there is more than one chevron, they are called che- 
vronels, as they mbit be fmaller. 
Chief, one of the honourable ordinaries. Lat .fum- 
mum ; Fr. chef. 
Civic Crowns, thefe were reckoned more honoura¬ 
ble than any other, though compoled of no better ma¬ 
terials than oak-boughs-. 
Cleche'e, faid of a crofs fpreading from the centre 
toward the extremity, nearly like a crojs rtccrcelec ; with 
tms Qinerence, mat tlie crofs cltchce ends with an angle 
in the middle of the extremity, by lines from the two 
points that make the breadth, till they come to join. 
Cockatrice, a winged heraldic monller, with tlie 
head, comb, and feet, of a cock, and the tail of a dragon. 
Cognisance, a term which fome confound with that 
oi cteft, fuppofing them to be fynonymous terms; but 
this is an error, for crefts were only worn formerly by 
heroes of great valour; but t ognifanccs were badges which 
fubordinate officers, and even foldiers, bore on their 
ffiields, for diflindtion-fake, being not entitled to a creft. 
Compone', a border, pale, bend, or other ordinary, 
made up of fquares, of alternate metal and colour. 
Lat. compofitus ; Fr. compofe. 
Contourne', denotes any figure with its head turn¬ 
ed toward the finifter fide of the efcutcheon. 
Cotise, one of the diminutives of the bend. It is 
feldom borne but in couple, with a bend or fefs between 
them, See Plate III. fig. 31. 
Cod ! cB ant, the poflure of any animal that is lying 
on its belly, with the head lifted up. 
Counter, fignifies either contrarytuife or in oppoftion 
of any metal with a colour. 
Counter-changed, denotes the intermixture or 
Oppofition of any metal with a colour. Lat. tranfmutatus; 
Fr. parti de I’un en iautre. 
Counter-flory, a treffure, where the fleurs-de-lis 
are op-polite to each other. 
Counter-passant, twoanimals paffing the contrary- 
way to each other. 
Counter-saliant, two animals leaping different 
ways from each other. 
Counter-vair, denotes that the little bells, of 
which vair is compofed, are ranged bafe againft bafe. 
Couped, is laid of the head, or any limb, cut off 
from the bod'y quite fmooth. It is alfo ufed to denote 
fuch erodes, bars, See. as do not touch the Tides of the 
efcutcheon. 
Couple-close, one of the diminutives of the che¬ 
vron : but is feldom borne in coats of arms. 
Co u rant, is laid of any animal running, Lat. cur. 
rens ; Fr. courant. 
Coward, is faid of a lion, &c. either paffant, ram¬ 
pant, or in any other polition, with its tail between its 
legs. 
Cramfette, a fmall cramp-iron; alfo the chape of 
the (cabbard at the bottom of a broad fword. 
Crampone'e, a crofs that~has at each end the Ihape 
of a cramp-iron. 
Crenelle 1 ', a word ufed by fome heralds inllead of 
embattled, to exprefs the outlines of any charge, drawn 
like the battlements of ancient towers. Lat . pinnatus; 
Fr. crenelle’. 
Crescent, the half-moon with its horns turned up¬ 
ward ; which is the general polition of this charge in 
coats of arms. Lat. luna cornuta ; Fr. croifant. 
Crest, the figure jtlaced above the helmet in an 
achievement. Lat. enfia ; Fr. cimier , from time, top, 
fummit. 
Crested, is faid of a cock, or other bird, whofe creft 
or comb is of a different tincture from the body. 
Crined, any animal whofe hair is of a different tinc¬ 
ture from its body. 
Croslet, a crofs eroded again at a fmall diftance 
from each of the ends. See Plate V. 
Cross, one of the honourable grand ordinaries. Lat. 
crux ; Fr. croix. See Plate V. 
Crusily, or Crusuly, a term ufed anciently to de* 
note a field feme of erodes. 
Current, is faid of a horfe that is reprefented going 
full fpeed, and without bridle or faddle. Lat. turrens ; 
Fr. courant. 
Dan cette', oEDancetted, a large indenting, being 
wider and deeper than that called indented, and whole' 
teeth or points never exceed three in number. Lat. den- 
liculatus ; Fr. danche. 
s Debruised, 
