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Dictionary of Vexillology: Appendix V

Heraldic Beasts

Last modified: 2008-09-27 by phil nelson
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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The common attitudes and presentation of heraldic beasts are listed below:

Addorsed
When two animals are turned back to back - endorsed.

Aure, Norway
Two Eagle’s Heads Erased Addorsed Or, Aure, Norway

Armed
The claws, teeth and beaks of beasts are of a different tincture to the rest of the body.

[example of armed beast]
Lion Rampant Sable, Armed and Langued Gules, Flanders Belgium (fotw)

Caboshed
When an animal’s head is borne full-faced and with no part of the neck visible - cabossed or cabooched.

Garesniica, Croatia
A Stag Caboshed, Or, Garesniica, Croatia

Contourné
When an animal is facing towards the sinister rather than the usual dexter.

Falcon proper contourné
Falcon Proper Contourné (Parker)

Couchant
When an animal is depicted as lying down, with its head generally facing towards the dexter.

Uherský Brod, Czech Republic
Lion Couchant Or, Uherský Brod, Czech Republic

Couped
Cut off in a straight line as is often the case with the heads and limbs of animals but see ‘couped’ main entry (also 'erased').

[example of couped]
A dexter hand couped at the wrist, Northern Ireland (fotw)

Erased
As couped above, but with the dividing line ragged or uneven.

[example of erased]
Three heads Erased Sable, Lennik, Belgium (fotw)

Guardant
When an animal has its face towards the onlooker - gardant.

[example of guardant]
Three Lions Passant Guardant Or, Armed and Langued Azure, Duchy of Lancaster, UK (Graham Bartram)

Haurient
When a fish is in the erect position (see also ‘naiant’).

Schwarzenbach, Switzerland
Three Fishes Haurient, Argent, Schwarzenbach, Switzerland (fotw)

Langued
The tongue of the beast, if shown, is of different tincture than the rest of the body.

[example of langued]
Lion Passant Sable, Armed and Langued Gules, Aalter, Belgium (fotw)

Naiant
When a fish (or occasionally a water-fowl) is shown swimming per fess, usually towards the dexter - natant.

Auvernier, Switzerland
A Perch Naiant Argent, Flag of Auvernier, Switzerland (fotw)

Passant
When an animal is depicted walking on all four paws, or with one paw raised, and generally towards the dexter – but see ‘trippant’.

[example of passant]
Three Bears Passant, Or, Beernem, Belgium (fotw)

Proper/Natural
When a charge is shown in its natural shape and colours, as opposed to stylised heraldic colours or shapes.

American Samoa
American Eagle Proper, National Flag of American Samoa (fotw)

Rampant
When an animal is depicted rearing on its hind legs with forepaws and claws extended.

[example of rampant]
Lion Rampant Gules, Armed and Langued Azure, Royal Banner of Scotland (Graham Bartram)

Regardant
When an animal is looking to the rear over its shoulder irrespective of its attitude.


Agnus Dei Proper Regardant (Parker)

Respectant
When two animals are depicted facing towards each other – combatant, affrontant or affrontée (but see note below).

Nax, Switzerland
Two Stags Rampant Respectant Argent, Nax, Switzerland

Please note, we suggest that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted before using this and the alternative terms given above.

Statant
When an animal is depicted on all four feet standing still whilst facing the dexter.

Morkov, Czech Republic Roebuck Statant Or, Morkov, Czech Republic

Trippant
When a beast of the chase (a stag, hart, buck etc) is depicted walking on all four hooves, or with one hoof raised, and generally towards the dexter – but see ‘passant’.


Stag Trippant Sable, Attired and Hoofed Gules, Rebévelier, Switzerland (fotw)

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