A term to express the field or charge when equally divided by horizontal lines. These division are composed of two tinctures and their number must be named, e.g. Barry of eight, Barry of ten, etc.
A field composed of four, six, eight, or ten horizontal pieces of equal width is barry of such and such a number of pieces, the number being always specified. A field composed of an equal number of horizontally shaped pieces, when these exceed ten in number, is termed barruly of such and such a number. The term barruly is also sometimes used for ten pieces. If the number is omitted barry will usually be of six pieces, though sometimes of eight.
On the other hand a field composed of five, seven, or nine pieces is not barry, but (e.g.) two bars, three bars, and four bars respectively. – This distinction in modern coats needs to be carefully noted, but in ancient coats it is not of equal importance. That is to say that the current 'rule' was not always adhered to as such.
Anciently also a shield barry was drawn of a greater number of pieces than would nowadays be employed. In modern armory a field so depicted would more correctly be termed barruly. Whilst a field can be and often is barry of two colours or two metals, an uneven number of pieces must of necessity be of metal and colour or fur. – Again, although these distinctions should be carefully noted as regards modern arms, it should be remembered that they are distinctions of modern armory, and ancient arms were not restricted in this way. Like most rules of heraldry, exceptions will be found. For example: BARRETT - Per pale ar. and gu. barry of seven counterchanged, a canton of the second charged with a rose imperially ensigned or. (Ireland [Castle Barrett, co. Cork], granted 1689)
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