+ - Tincture
- The colour or metal of a heraldic surface. Or = gold; argent = silver; gules = red; azure = blue; sable = black; vert = green; purpure = purple; murrey, sanguine, tenné are the rarer "stains."
+ - Field
- The surface of the shield, before any charges are added.
+ - Ordinary
- A simple geometric figure painted directly on the field: a bend (diagonal stripe), fess (horizontal), pale (vertical), chevron, cross, saltire, chief (top band), bordure (border).
+ - Charge
- Any figure placed on the field: beast, bird, plant, weapon, or geometric token.
+ - Attitude
- The posture of a beast. A lion rampant rears on its hind legs; passant walks with one paw raised; statant stands; couchant lies; sejant sits.
+ - Arrangement
- How multiple charges are placed: in pale stacked, in fess in a row, in chief along the top, in saltire crossed.
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