W W W W W W W W

Home A B Bo C Co Cr D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

waguhn

This charge seems to occur only in the coat of arms of one family.

Argent, on a bend engrailed sable a wagon of the first (and a mullet for difference(?))” – Binning, Scotland.

 


wayls

The armorial insignia assigned to Wales generally are those of South Wales only. Those of North Wales are distinct.

Quarterly gules and Or, four lions passant gardant counterchanged” – South Wales.
Argent, three lions passant gardant in pale gules, their tails passed between their hind legs and reflected over their backs” – North Wales (MS. Harl. 4199).

 


wahl
Alternate Terms: Dyke, Mur

This is generally found named in connection with castles or towns which are walled (muraillé). A wall of this kind should be masoned (fr. maçonné) and embattled (fr. crenellé), even though this be not specified.

Argent, a tower flanked by a wall and two turrets gules – Daman.
gules, a tower embattled with a round roof between two other turrets standing on a wall extended in fesse, arched inarched ... ” – Bridgmore.
“.... On a mount rising out of water a castle with three towers embattled and domed and joined to each other by a circular wall ... ” – Seal of the town of Bosney, Cornwall.
Or, a dyke (or wall) fesswise (masoned proper) broken down in some places gules; on a chief sable three escallops of the first; in base a rose as the second” – Graham, Inchbrakie, Scotland (similar arms borne by Græme of Stapleton).

 


wahl'nuht
Alternate Term: Walnut Tree

The walnut tree, and its fruit and leaves are sometimes used in heraldry for canting reasons
 


war mace

a weapon, which has a spiked spherical head at the end of a haft. A short length of chain is often attached to a hole at the end of the haft. The mace was a favourite weapon of churchmen who were forbidden to draw blood in combat and therefore could not use swords.
 


war"den

A type of pear, used in heraldry for canting reasons.
 


a water-bouget
a water-bouget
Early forms of water-bougets
Early forms of waterbougets
Later forms of water bougets
Later forms of waterbougets
wa"ter bou"jay
Alternate Terms: Bouget, Budget, Water-Budget
  1. A yoke with two leather pouches appended, used to carry water. There are many forms.
  2. A bucket for carrying water. It is an early charge, and is identified with the names of Ros and Rose.

  1. Said of the gills of the cock and cockatrice.
  2. A term used to refer to a cock's wattles, e.g. a golden cock with red wattles would be blazoned as a cock or, wattled gules. “Jelopped” is an alternative term.

waves of the sea

waves of the sea these are usually shown naturally.
 


a line wavy
a line wavy
Argent, a bend wavy gules
Argent, a bend wavy ules
way'vee

A complex field division line that consists of a smooth curve that occillates up and down line a sine wave.
 


wee"sahl
Alternate Term: Belette
  1. An animal, which is very similar in appearance to the stoat (with which is it often identified).
  2. Besides the common weasel (mustela vulgaris) the marten (mustela martes; fr. martre), as well as the variety with the white throat, the foine (mustela foina; fr. fouine) are found in blazon; and more important than all, the ermine, (mustela erminea; fr. hermine), which has supplied the most common of the furs used in heraldry.
    Argent, a fesse gules; in the dexter chief point a weasel passant proper” – Belet.
    gules, three weasels courant Argent – Schoppin.
    Sable, a chevron ermine between three weasels passant Argent – Byrtwysell, Amcote Hall, co. Lancaster.
    Argent, a foine (? marten) sable, on a chief indented gules three escallops Or – Marten, Sussex.
    Or, on a chief vert an ermine passant proper” – Watson, Newport, Salop.
    “De gueules, à une hermine au naturel, passante, accolée d'un manteau d'hermine, doublé de toile d'Or voletant”Ville de Vannes, Bretagne.
    “De gueules, à une grille d'Or, supportant une hermine passante d'ArgentVille de St. Malo.

Or, three wedges sable
Or, three wedges sabe
wehdj

This is one of the irregular and doubtful term sometimes made use of. The charges may, after all, in some of the cases be only intended for nails, but being badly drawn have misled the heralds. Another name given in heraldic books to the same figure is the stone-bill.

"Or, three wedges (? nails) sable" – Proctor, Norfolk.
"Vert, three wedges (? nails) Argent" – Isham, Northumberland.
"Argent, on a chevron between three wedges sable five mullets of the first" – Wadge, Upton, Lewanneck.
"Argent, a chevron between three wedges (or piles) sable" – Pegge, Beauchief Abbey.
"Argent, a chevron between three stone-bills sable" – Billesby.

 


wehll buhk"et
Alternate Terms: Pail, Pails

A bucket made from staves of wood bound with iron hoops, like a barrel. It has three wooden feet and a rope handle attached. It can also be called a pail.
 


Gules, three whales haurient Or, in the mouth of each a crosier of the last -- Whalley Abbey
Gules, three whales haurient
Or, in the mouth of each
a crosier of the last
-- Whalley Abbey
wayl
Alternate Term: Baleine

This mammal was considered as one of the great fish of the see, but so far as has been observed, it rarely occurs beyond the arms of the families of Whalley, and the insignia of the Abbey of that name.

The head is represented as in the margin, but the French heralds are said to draw it with teeth gules, and to blazon the animal as fierté. The head occurs also as a crest.

gules, three whales haurient Or, in the mouth of each a crosier (otherwise vorant as many crosiers) of the last” – Whalley Abbey, co. Lancaster (founded 1309).
ermine, on a bend sable three whale's heads erased Or – Whalley.
Argent, three whale's heads erased and erect Or” – Whalley.
Or, two bars wavy, and in chief three whale's heads erect and erased sable” – Colbeck, co. Bedford.
Per pale azure and purpure, three whale's heads erased Or, each ingulphant of a spear-head Argent – Sir Hugh Vaughan, Littleton, Middlesex (temp. Hen. VIII.)

 


weet
Alternate Terms: Blé, Wheatsheaf

Wheat (like other grains in heraldry) is usually found in the form of a sheaf, termed a garb. In more modern arms, a single ear can be found. The term “aulned” is used when describing the beard of an ear of wheat.
 


Azure, a Katherine-wheel Or -- Belvoir
Azure, a Katherine-wheel
Or -- Belvoir
Gules, a wheel of eight spokes Or -- Martejoys
Gules, a wheel of eight
spokes Or -- Martejos
a catherine wheel
a catherine wheel
weel
Alternate Terms: Cart-wheel, Catherine-Wheel, Katherine-Wheel, Roue
  1. Usually of eight spokes. The Katherine-wheel is armed with teeth.
  2. The more frequent charge is the Katherine-wheel, the instrument of the martyrdom of St. Katherine, represented as in the arms of Belvoir.
    azure, a Katherine-wheel Or – Belvoir, co. Lincoln; also Wytherton.
    Argent, a Katherine-wheel between two columns Or; in chief a regal crown proper; in base an axe Argent, handled of the second, lying fessways, the blades downwards (St. Katherine with her wheel is the crest of the same Company)” – Turners’ Company, (Inc. 1604).
    gules, a Katherine-wheel Or – St. Katherine's Hall, Cambridge, (founded 1475).
    Per fesse gules and azure; in chief a sword barwise Argent, hilt and pomel to the dexter side Or; in base a demi-Katherine-wheel of the last divided fessways, the circular part towards the chief – St. Katherine's Hospital, London.
    azure, a Katherine-wheel with a Cross Calvary projecting from it in chief Argent – Augustinian Nunnery, Flixton, Suffolk.
    azure, two bars Or, in chief a Katherine-wheel between as many buglehorns Argent – Mertins, Lord Mayor of London.
    gules, three bars Argent, on a chief azure three Katherine-wheels Or – Lepton, co. York.
    Argent, on a chief azure two Katherine-wheels of the first” – Wheeler, co. Salop.
    azure, a sword Argent, between three Katherine-wheels Or – Bayle.
    “D'Azur, À Trois Roues De Sainte Catherine d'Or – Catherine, Bourgoyne.
    Other wheels are found named, i.e. Cart-wheel, usually of eight spokes. In one case the Water-wheel is named, and for Mill-wheels see under Mill.
    gules, a wheel of eight spokes Or – Martejoys.
    gules, a fesse between three cart-wheels Or – Carrington, co. York.
    gules, a chevron between three wheels Or; on a chief Argent an axe lying fessways proper” – Wheelwrights’ Company, (Inc. 1670).
    azure, a horse Argent, bridled gules, between three wheels Or – Morcraft.
    Or, a camel statant sable, between three half-wheels azure; on a chief of the third a wheel Argent enclosed by two bezants – John Wheeler, Stoke, Surrey, 1543. (From Glover's Ordinary.)
    Argent, a wheel Or, vert between the spokes” – Lles Ap Coel.
    azure, a wheel of a watermill Or; on a canton of augmentation the royal badge of England and Scotland, viz. the rose and thistle conjoined palewise proper” – de Moline, Ambassador from the Doge of Venice, temp. King James.

Argent, a chevron erminois between three boatswain's whistles azure -- Lord Hawke
Argent, a chevron erminois
between three boatswain's
whistles azure -- LordHawke
wihsl

The Boatswain's whistle occurs as a charge in the insignia of the Newcastle Company, and on the arms of Baron Hawke.

Argent, an anchor pendent azure, the ring and timber ( i.e. crosspiece) 5; on a chief of the second a boatswain's whistle and chain of the third, the chain supporting the anchor – Masters’ and Mariners’ Company, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Argent, a chevron erminois between three boatswain's whistles azure” – Hawke, co. York; Barony, 1776.

 


whit"ing

A small fish, generally found in heraldry for canting reasons.
 


wind mills

A post-mill is shown, i.e. a square wooden building with four windmill sails attached. Windmill sails can also be found on their own, often as crests.
 


wihng

Wings are often found as a charge without being attached to a bird. They may occur singly or in pairs. When two wings are joined at the top. with their tips downwards they are termed “in lure”, and when they are joined with their tips upwards they are a “vol”.
 


Gules, a wolf passant argent -- Lowe
Gules, a wolf passant
argent -- Lowe
a wolf salient
a wolf salient
wuhlf
Alternate Terms: Loup, Lupus
  1. A member of the dog family. Its French name: loup gives rise to its use in various canting settings. The head is probably more popular as a charge, than the whole body.
  2. This animal is found in a good many arms, and also in a few early instances, being adopted by families into whose names some form of the word “Lou” enters. The head is, perhaps, more frequently borne than the whole animal. It may be rampant, salient, combatant, statant, but most frequently simply passant, etc. It occurs also very frequently in crests, especially the head.
    gules, a wolf passant Argent – Lowe, co. Wilts.
    Sire Johan le Low, “de Argent a ij barres de goules, en le chef iij testes de lou de goules” – Roll, temp. ED. II.
    Sire William Videlou, “de Argent a iij testes de lou de goules” – Ibid.
    gules, three wolf’s heads couped Or – Locard, Ireland.
    Argent, three wolves passant sable” – Lovatt, co. Stafford.
    Argent, a chevron between three wolf’s heads erased gules – Lovell, Norfolk.
    “On a bend three wolf’s heads erased – John Lowe, Bishop of St. Asaph, 1433, afterwards of Rochester, 1444-67.
    Sable, a wolf salient, and in chief three estoiles Or – Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor and Man, 1697-1755.
    azure, a wolf rampant Argent collared and chained Or; in chief three crosses patty fitchy of the second” – Bushe, co. Wilts.
    gules, a chevron ermine between three wolves, the two in chief combatant Or – Grenford.
    azure, a war-wolf passant and three stars in chief Argent – Dickison, Scotland.
    gules, a demi-wolf proper issuing to the sinister, feet erected each side of the head Argent – Betwill.
    “D'Argent, à deux loups de sable, l’un sur l’autre (=in pale); et une bordure denchée de gueules” – De Salve, Provence.
  3. The Wolf is symbolic of a fierce, noble fighting spirit, if somewhat savage and wild. Usually pictured as combatant or salient (leaping up).

wuhl-ver-een"
Alternate Terms: Glutton, Gluttons

a giant weasel, also known as a “glutton” which is frequently found in Hungarian heraldry.
 


wud
Alternate Term: Forêt

A small group of trees (generally on a mount) is found named in heraldry under various terms, e.g. a wood, a grove, or a thicket, and in one case a forest. The term “hurst”, too, means the same thing, and perhaps bowers in the arms of Gillam.


Argent, a lion sejant in a wood all proper; on a chief wavy gules a harp between two anchors OrWood, Ireland (conf. 1647).
Or, on a mount a stag lodged in a grove of trees proper, on a chief gules a cinquefoil between two mullets of the field – Fernie, Scotland.
gules, a stag Argent lodged in a thicket of trees vert; between the attires three stars of the second” – Fairnie, Scotland.
Argent, out of a mount in base a forest of trees vert” – Busche, also Forrest.
Argent, in base a mount vert, on the sinister side a hurst of oak-trees, therefrom issuant a wolf passant proper (otherwise, Argent, a wolf issuing from a wood proper)” – O'Callaghan, Ireland.
Argent, on a mount in base a hurst proper; on a chief wavy azure three fleurs-de-lis Or – France, Bostock Hall, co. Chester.
Sable, on a chevron Or, between three dolphins embowed proper, as many bowers vert” – Gillam, Essex.
“D'Argent, à une forêt de sinople”Ville de Nemours, Ile de France.

 


a wreath
a wreath
Azure, a circular wreath argent and sable, with four hawk's bells joined thereto in quadrature Or -- Jocelyn
Azure, a circular wreath
argent and sable, with
four hawk's bells joined
thereto in quadrature
Or -- Jocelyn
wreeth
Alternate Terms: Bourrelet, Torse, Tortil
  1. A circlet of leaves (these will be oak leaves, unless otherwise stated), which is tied with ribbons. It is similar to the chaplet and the garland, with which it is often confused. The term “wreath” can also refer to a large annulet gyronny, which is a conventionalised representation of a crest-wreath viewed from above.
  2. The wreath, technically speaking, is the twisted band composed of two strips of gold or silver lace and silk by which the crest is joined to the helmet; though some wreaths of the fifteenth century were of four tinctures. It is sometimes, but improperly, called a roll, at others a torse. It was, perhaps, copied by the crusaders from the wreathed turbans of the Saracens. The first noticed is that of Sir John de Harsich, 1384.

    Wreaths should always shew an equal number of divisions(now restricted to six), which are usually tinctured with the principal metal and colour of the arms alternately. Every crest is understood to be placed upon a wreath, unless a chapeau or some coronet be expressly mentioned. But wreaths also sometimes occur as charges; e.g. we find a circular wreath. This is meant for the same object as the above, but viewed from a different point. Animals also are sometimes represented with wreaths on their heads.
    azure, a circular wreath Argent and sable, with four hawk's bells joined thereto in quadrature Or – Jocelyn, Essex.
    gules, three lions rampant Or with wreaths Or their heads azure – Kellam.
    Although the wreath proper is composed of one or more coloured stuffs, the Chaplets, of oak, laurel, and garlands of flowers, etc., are frequently blazoned as wreaths.
    azure, on a fesse between three garbs Or a wreath of oak vert between two estoiles gules – Sandbach, co. Lancaster.
    ermine, a rose gules on a chief embattled Or two banners in saltire, the staves enfiled by a wreath of laurel proper, a canton gules charged with a representation of a medal” – Nightingall, co. Norfolk.
    “Pean, tree mountain-cats passant in pale Argent, on a canton Or a fesse gules surmounted by an anchor of the third encircled by a wreath of laurel vert” – Keats, Dorrant House, Dover; quartering Goodwin.

wreethd
Alternate Terms: Torce, Tortillé
  1. Said of ordinaries represented as twisted, or formed like a rope.
  2. A charge which is encircled by a garland would be described as “wreathed.” The blazon usually specified where the garland is found e.g. wreathed around the loins.
  3. “On a wreath Argent and sable a moor's head in profile couped proper, wreathed Or and of the second”crest of Moore or More.
    Argent, a bend wreathed azure and Or – Oare, Sussex.
    Or, two bars wreathed bendy of eight azure and gules – Jakys.
    “D'Argent, à trois têtes de Maure de sable, tortillées du champ – Rigaud, Auvergne.

wrehn

The Wren and the Robin Redbreast have been assumed as devices chiefly on account of the name.

Argent, a chevron sable between three wrens close sable (other wise brown, and in another case back vert and breast gules)” – Wrenbury.
Argent, on a chevron azure three wrens of the first, a chief gules charged with as many horse's heads erased purpure”Wren (“the chief Or, charged with as many heads erased brown” – Wrenne, Harl. MS. 1404).
Argent, on a chevron between three wrens gules, as many mullets of the first” – Manigham.
Per pale Argent and azure, a fesse nebuly counterchanged between three robin redbreasts proper” – Robyns, Alderman of London.
nebuly Argent and azure, four birds (? robins) counterchanged” – Robyns, co. Cornwall.

 


wihn

A small flag.
 


a wyvern erect
a wyvern erect
Wyvern wings displayed
Wyvern wings displayd
weh'vern
Alternate Terms: Wiver, Wivern
  1. A two-legged dragon having wings and a barbed and knotted tail.
  2. In British heraldry a distinction is made between the dragon, which always has four feet, and the wyvern, which is exactly the same as a dragon, but it only has two feet. In European heraldry (in keeping with the heraldry of the Middle Ages), the two-legged creature is also called a dragon. There is little difference in the symbolism of the two creatures.
  3. Essentially the same as a dragon but possessing only two legs. When depicted in proper colours, the Wyvern is green with a red belly and redunderwings. The Wyvern is sometimes known as a symbol of vengeance or perseverance.

Home A B Bo C Co Cr D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

Last updated on
September 9th, 2005