HERA 
Debruised, denotes the. reftraint of any animal de¬ 
barred of its natural freedom, by another charge, or any 
of the ordinaries, being placed over it. 
Dec r'escent, this is faid of a moon in its wane, whofe 
horns are turned toward the finifter fide of the efcutch- 
eon. 
Dehache', formerly ufed to defcribe an animal, whofe 
limbs-had been cut; but the term coupcd is now ufed 
inftead of it. 
Denticulated, is faid of a line or an ordinary 
formed outwardly, like the imbattled; but differing from 
it in having Smaller and clofer incifures, refembling a 
row of teeth. 
Dexter, is ufed in heraldry to fignify the right fide 
of the fhield. 
Diamond, is ufed by Some heralds to denote the co- 
loui ■■fable, in blazoning the arms of the- nobility. Lat. 
adamas ; Fr. diamant. 
Diapered, is faid of a field divided into panes, like 
fretwork, and filled with variety of figures. Lat. duri- 
atus ; Fr. diapre. 
Difference, a figure added to coats of arms to dif- 
tinguifh one family from another, and to fliovv how dis¬ 
tant younger branches are from the ftera, 
Dimidiated, a word ufed in blazoning an animal 
divided into two parts, chiefly applied to demi-lions, 
Sec. borne in crefls. Lat. dimidiatus ; Fr. demi. 
Diminutive, a word ufed to denote heraldic charges 
eon trailed, either in breadth or length, from the refpedt- 
ive dimenfions appertaining to the principal ordinaries. 
Dormant, the pofture of a lion, or any other beaft 
afleep. Lat. dormiens ; Fr. dormant. 
Double-queue, having two tails. 
Double-tressure, two treffures or orles, one with¬ 
in the other. 
Doublings, the linings of robes of ftate; alfo the 
rows of fur, fet on the mantles of noblemen. 
Dovetail, a partition, wherein the two different 
tin< 5 hlres are fet within one another, in fuch a manner, 
as to reprelent the form of the tails of doves, or wedges 
reverfed. 
Dragon, an imaginary creature, commonly repre¬ 
sented with four feet, two wings, and a ferpent’s tail. 
Lat. draw, Fr. dragon. —The dragon is faid to be the 
emblem of vigilance and Safeguard. The ancients and 
the moderns have both fpoken of this fabulous being. 
Confecrated by the religion of the earlieft people, and 
particularly the Chinefe nation ; having become the ob¬ 
ject of their mythology, the minifter of the will of their 
gods, the guardian of their treafures: obedient to the 
power of enchantrefTes, and entering even into the divine 
allegories of the mod facred collections, it has been ce¬ 
lebrated by the firft poets, and pourtrayed with all the 
colours that could embellifh its form; the principal or¬ 
nament of pious fables, invented in the remoteft ages, 
Subdued by heroes, who combated for a divine law ; 
confidered as the emblem of the fplendid achievements 
of valiant knight-errants, it has enlivened the poetry of 
the moderns, as it animated that of the ancients; Some¬ 
times clothed with the greatell power, deftroying the 
victims of its fury by a Single look, transporting itfelf 
through the clouds with the velocity of lightning, Strik¬ 
ing like a thunderbolt, uniting the agility of the eagle, 
the ftrength of the lion, and the fubtilty of the Serpent; 
Sometimes affuming even the human figure, endued with 
an intelligence almoff divine, and adored even at prefent 
in the vaft kingdoms of the eaft, the dragon has been 
all things, and has been found every where, but in. na¬ 
ture. From one of its fuppofed qualities this chimerical 
being has been adopted for the Supporters of the city 
of London, as if to watch over the immenfe wealth 
which this emporium of the world contains. See Plate V. 
fig. 65. 
Ducal, pertaining to a duke; as a ducal coronet, 
&c. 
Vol. IX. No, 596. 
L D R Y. 421 
Eaglet, a term ufed in blazoning feveral eagles in 
a fhield. 
Embowed, this is faid of any figure or charge that 
is bent, or crooked like a bow. 
Emerald, is fubftituted inftead of vert, in blazoning 
the arms of the nobility. 
Endorse, one of the diminutives of the pale. 
Enfiled, a Sword whoSe blade is run through a head, 
or any other charge ; as, enjiled with a head, See. 
Engoule'e, applied to croires, faltiers, Scc. when 
their extremities enter the mouth of a lion, or any other 
animal. 
Engrailed, broken, like the leaves of a tree notched 
by hailftones ; it is faid of partitions, borders, or ordi¬ 
naries, having little arches, or Semicircles ftruck out of 
them, the points of which enter the field, being the re- 
verfe of inveEted. Ldt.flriatus ; Fr. engraile. 
Enhanced, applied to bearings, placed above their 
ufual Situation, which chiefly happens to the bend or 
its diminutives. 
Ensicn, a badge or mark of diftinCtion, rank, or 
office. 
Ensigned, in blazoning a charge, means decorated 
with fome kind of ornament. Lat. inflgnitus. 
Ermine, black Spots on a white field ; but if the 
word plain be ufed with it, it denotes white fur. 
Ermines, the reverfe of ermine, i. e. white fpots on 
a black field. 
Erminois, the field or, and the fpots black. 
Escutcheon, is Sometimes ufed to Cxprefs the re- 
prefentation of the whole coat of arms, Or only to fignifjr' 
the field that contains the charges. Lat. feutum; Fr. ecu. 
Efcutcheon of Pretence, a fmall efcutcheon, on which a 
man carries the coat of arms of his wife, being an heirefs. 
Etoile, a Jlar, by many confounded with a mullet-, but 
they are diftinguifhed by reprefenting the ftar with fix 
waved rays, and the mullet with five plain points. Lat. 
Jlella ; Fr. etoile. See Plate V. fig. 6 j. 
Fess, one of the honourable ordinaries. "Lat.fafcia-, 
Fr .fafee. 
Fess-point, the centre of the efcutcheon, So called 
becaufe it is the point through which the fefs line is 
drawn, when the field is parted per fefs. 
Fesswise, a charge dilpofed after the manner pfa fefs. 
Field, the Surface of the fhield or efcutcheon, which 
contains the charge or arms. Lat. campus ; Fr. champ. 
Figured, is faid of tnofe bearings which are depicted 
with a human face. 
Fillet, the Only diminutive belonging to the chief. 
Fimbriated, an ordinary, See. having a narrow bor¬ 
der or hem of another tincture. Lat. fmbriatus ; Fr. 
franche. 
Fitche', or Fitch y, is faid of c-roiles when the lower 
branch ends in a fharp point. Lat .fgibilis; Yx.ficht. 
Flank, that part of the fide of an efcutcheon which 
is between the chief.and the bafe. 
Flanches, or Flaunches, heraldic figures. See 
Subordinaries. 
Flexed, bent. ~LzX.fl.exus-, Fr . flee hi. 
Fleur-de-lis, or Flower-de-luce, a charge fre¬ 
quently met with in coats of arms. See description of 
Plate V. fig. 69. 
Flory, Signifies flowered, or adorned with the fleurs~ 
de-lis. Lat. liliatus ; Fr .fleury. 
Forme's. See Patte'e. 
Fourchy, denotes forked, or divided at the ends; 
therefore, a crofs fourchy is a crofs forked at all its ex¬ 
tremities. Lat .furcatus-, Px.fourchu. 
Fret, a figure refembling two little flicks lying fal- 
tierwife, and interlaced within a mafcle. 
Pretty, afield or ordinary covered with eight pieces, 
or more, interlacing one another, in the manner of a fret. 
Fur, is ufed in heraldry to denote the linings and 
doublings of mantlings in achievements, and likewife 
different variegated colours; as ermine , erminois, Sec. 
5 P FusiLj 
