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Armorial Gold's Heraldry Dictionary

This heraldry dictionary is based on the works of Elvin (edited by Marvin Beatty) from his original manuscript of 1879. Corrections have been made, and additions from the Armorial Gold Library have been added. You are welcome to use this heraldry dictionary as a reference tool without fee. This is copyrighted material and as such may not be reproduced in "any way" without the expressed written permission of Armorial Gold. Thank You for your Cooperation.
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Heraldry Dictionary Section I

Ibex. In armoury, an imaginary animal, it has two straight horns projecting from the forehead, serrated.

Ibis. An Egyptian-bird.

Icicle. A pendent conical mass of ice.

I.H.S. Iota, Eta, and Sigma of Jesus, also abbreviation for Jesus, or Jesus Hominum Salvator.

Ilex. See Holly.

Imbattled. Or Embattled. Same as Crenellée.

Imbattled Christed. A chief imbattled christed. Same as a Chief Urdee, or Champagne.

Imbordured. See Bordered.

Imbordering. A term to express a field bordered with the same tincture as the field.

Imbowed or Embowed. Bent.

Imbrued, Imbued or Embrued. Stained with blood.

Impale-To. Is to join two coats of arms palewise. See Arms Impaled.

Impaled. United by impalement.

Impaling. Dividing the shield per-pale. In impaling a, coat with a border, the border is not continued down the centre line.

Imperial Crown. Properly that which is worn by an Emperor; the Crowns of Kings are, however, often termed imperial, and any bearing that is crowned with a regal crown is said to be Imperially Crowned.

Imperial Eagle. An eagle with two heads.

Imprese or Impress. A device on a shield. A painted metaphor.

In. Added to the Ordinary, is used to express the position of charges when they occupy that position of the shield assigned to the ordinary. Observe it is correct to use the following terms instead of "In", viz : Bendways, Paleways, Fesse, or Bill-ways, Cheveronways, Saltireways.

Incensed, Incensan or Anime. Terms for animals when borne with fire issuing from their mouths and ears.

Inclave. The same as pattée, or dovetailed.

Incontrant. Meeting. The same as Respectant.

Increment. Used to express the moon in her increase.

Increscent. A crescent with horns towards the dexter.

Inde. Azure.

Indented. Notched.

Indented-embowed. A chev. Indented embowed.

Indentee. Having indents not joined.

Indentelly. Indented Perlong, with notches much deeper than usual.

Indian Empire, Order of. See Knighthood Orders of.

Indorce. See Endorse.

Indorsed or Endorsed. Placed back to back.

Inescutcheon, Inescochen or Escochen. A small escutcheon borne as a charge, or on the centre of a shield, but much smaller than what is termed an escutcheon of Pretence.

Infamed. See Defamed.

Inflamed or Flamant. Anything burning.

Infula. A long cap.

Infulæ. Ribands hanging from a Bishop's Mitre.

Infulated. Adorned.

Infuled. Having a long cap embowed, at the end a tassel.

In-Full course. Same as Current.

In Glory or In Splendour. The sun surrounded by rays.

In-Lure. Two wings conjoined and inverted are said to be in lure.

In-Pretence. Placed upon, and in front of.

In-pride. Said of the Peacock and Turkeycock when depicted with tail extended.

In-surcoat. See Surtout.

Ingrailed. See Engrailed.

Ingulfant or Engoulant. See Ingullant.

Ingullant. Swallowing.

Inhanced. Same as Enhanced.

Ink-horn. Anciently termed "penner and ink-horn".

Inquire, Arms of. An Heraldic anomaly, is when a Coat contains charges so contrary to the general rules of Heraldry, that persons are led to ask why they have been granted. See Enquirir, Arms of.

Inraced or Racee. The same as indented.

Insects. Of different kinds are borne in Coat Armour. Bees, Ants, Butterflies, etc.

Insignia. Badges of distinction.

Insigned or Ensigned. Crowned.

Instruments of the Passion. Displayed on shields in ecclesiastical decorations are the Pitcher, Towel, Sword, Scourge, Crown of Thorns, Reed and Sponge, Spear, Nails, Ladder, Pincers, and a Heart pierced with five wounds, arranged in different ways.

Inter. Between.

Interchangeably-posed. As fish lying across each other, the heads and tails interchangeably posed, the head of each appearing between the tails of the others. This might be blazoned three fish, two in saltire heads upwards, one in pale head downwards.

Interchanged. The same as counterchanged.

Interfretted, Interlaced or Interlinked. Linked together.

Interposed. Alternately disposed.

Intersicants or Intersectants. Per-transient lines which cross each other.

Interstice. The narrow space between two or more bodies.

Inveckee and Goaree. The same as Double Arching, or Archee, Nuee, and Undee.

Invecked, Invected or Invecqued. The reverse of engrailed.

Invelloped or Involved. Surrounded by, or issuing from clouds, etc.

Invertant, Inverted or Reversed. Any thing turned the wrong way.

Invexed. See Arched.

Irish Brogue. See Brogue.

Irish-cups. See Covered-cups.

Iron. See Cutting, Drawing, Soldering, and Spade Iron.

Iron Ring. A tool used by wiredrawers.

Irradiated. Surrounded by rays.

Isant. See Issuant.

Issuant or Issuing. Terms which signify proceeding from, or coming out of.

Issuant et Issuant, or Issuant-Revertant. Terms to express an animal as if he were issuing or coming into the field in base, and going out again in chief.

Ivy. A plant that runs up trees, walls, etc. "Ivy is the symbol of eternal life." The arms of the Town of St. Ives. ar. an Ivy branch overspreading the whole field vert.
 

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The Heraldry Dictionary by Armorial Gold Heraldry Services is provided as a free resource tool for Heraldry enthusiasts. The Heraldry Dictionary and the information contained therein, has been researched through original manuscripts and Armorial Gold’s own sources.  Reproduction in any form is prohibited. All rights reserved.