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HERALDRY GLOSSARY

LETTER C




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Caboshed, or Cabosed. The head of any beast, full-faced, that has been cut off behind the ears, not showing neck

Cabree, or Effray. See Salient

Cadency. Distinction between members of a family, according to their ages.

Cadet. A younger son, or branch of a family

Campanes. Bells suspended to charges

Canting arms. When the charges are so arranged as to form a rebus on the bearer's name

Canton. One-third of the chief. See Plate IX

Cap of maintenance. Worn by the nobility. Made of crimson velvet and turned-up ermine. See Plate I (M)

Caparisoned. When a war horse is ready for the field

Cartouche. Fancy-shaped oval used by churchmen in lieu of shield

Casque. A helmet

Celestial crown. See Plate XVII

Cercellee or Recercellee. Applied to the curled ends of a cross

Chained. When a chain is attached to a collar

Chapeau. See Cap of maintenance

Chaplet. A garland of flowers and leaves

Charged. When the field, or ordinary, bears a device

Charges. Heraldic bearings and emblems

Cheeky, or Cheque. When the field, or anv charge, is composed of small alternate squares of different tinctures. See Plate VI

Chevron. An ordinary, representing two rafters joined in chief, occupying one-fifth of the field. Abbrev. chev. See Plate VIII

Chevron, per. When a chevron is divided, as party per chevron. See Plate IV

Chevrons couched. Chevrons lying side by side. See Plate XX

Chevrons counterpoint. One chevron standing point downward on the head of another. See Plate XX

Chevronel. A diminudve, half the size of the chevron. See Plate VIII

Chevrony. When the field is divided into several equal divisions, chevronwise. See Plate VI

Chief. An ordinary, occupving the upper third of the shield. See Plate VII

Chief, In. When charges are placed horizontally in space occupied by the chief

Chimerical. Applied to imaginary figures, as Dragons, Cockatrices and Wiverns

Cinquefoil. A five-leaved grass. See Plate XV

Close. When the wings of a bird are close to its body

Closet. Diminutive of the bar. See Plate VIII

Coat of arms. Originally a coat with insignia borne over armor; now understood as a complete heraldic composition

Collared. When an animal has a collar round its neck

Combatant, or Confronte. Fighting face to face

Compartments. See Partitions

Company. When an ordinary is made of small squares of alternate tinctures in one row. See Plate XIX

Conjoined, or Conjunct. Charges, when joined together

Contourne. Applied to any animal having its face turned to the sinister of the escutcheon

Coronet. When not otherwise mentioned is a Ducal one. See Plate XVI

Cost, or Cotice. A diminutive of the bend, mostly used in couples on each side of a bend. See Plate VII

Couchant. A beast lying down, with head up

Counterchanged. An admixture of colors and metals, one against another.

Counter compony. As Componv.but in two rows. See Plate XIX.

Counter vair. A fur. See Plate III

Couped. When an animal's head or limb is cut off evenly ; also when a charge is cut so that it does not reach edge of escutcheon. See Plate XXI

Couple close. A diminutive ot the chevron, containing one-fourth of its surface. See Plate VIII

Courant. Applied to animals when running

Coward. When an animal has its tail between its legs

Crenelle. See Embattled

Crescent. Half moon, with its horns turned towards chief of shield. Also a mark of cadencv, denoting second son. See Plate XIV

Crested. When a male bird has its comb a different tincture to its body

Crest wreath. Twisted silk or linen of two tinctures, supporting crest. See Plate I (L)

Crined. When the tincture of the hair or beard differs from that of the body

Cross. One of the ordinaries, formed by the meeting of two horizontal and two perpendicular lines—meeting, but not drawn through. Occupies one-third, when charged, and one-fifth, when not charged. See Plate VIII. Per cross. See Plate IV

Crosses. Various kinds of. See Plates XI and XII

Crosswise or in Cross. When charges are placed in form of a cross. Usually five in number

Cubit arm. When the dexter hand and arm are couped at the elbow

Cuffed. When a cuff is of a different tindure from the sleeve

Cuirass. A piece of armor for the protection of the chest