Page 13 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects
P. 13

A
                                                                 Abatements  were  imposed  for
                                                               such ' crimes ' as the following:
                                                               1. Revoking  one's  own challenge.
                              Abased,  abaissé  - An  expression  2.  Desertingone's sovereign's banner.
                              used  when  a  chevron,  fess or  other  3.  Discourteously  treating  either
                              ordinary  is  placed  lower  than  its  maiden  or widow  against  their will.
                              usual  position.
                                                               4.  Boasting  of  one's  prowess.
                                                               5.  Killing  one's  prisoner.
                              Abatements - Sometimes known  as  6.  Telling lies  to  one's  sovereign.
                              rebatements  are  marks  of  disgrace  7.  Cowardice.
                              applied  to  arms  in  early  Heraldry  8. Drunkenness.
                              on  account  of  some  dishonourable
                                                                 Special  HeraIdic  marks  of  bas-
                              act  of  the  bearer.  There  were  nine  tardy  have  sometimes  been  called
                                                               abatements  because  they  abate  or
                              in number viz.
                              1. Delf
                                                               reduce  the  status  of  the  arms  lo
                              2.  hescutcheon  reversed.
                                                               is  not  in  the  direct  legitimate  line
                              3.  Point  dexter.
                                                               the extent of  showing that the bearer
                              4.  Point in point.
                                                               of  succession. This use  of  the word
                              5.  Point  champaine.
                                                               abatement does not irnply dishonour
                                                               in  any way  whatsoever.
                              6. Plain point.
                              7.  Gore sinister.
                              8.  Gusset dexter.
                                                               Abbreviations - The  following  ab-
                              9.  Gusset sinister.
                                                               breviations  are  commonly  used  in
                              These marks must be in  one of  the  Heraldry:
                              oJd  tinctures,  namely  sanguine  or  1. Arg - argent.
                              tenné  as in  any  other  tincture  they  2. Az - azure.
                              may  very  occasionally  be found  as  3.  Erm -ermine.
                              a normal  charge.
                                                               4.  Gu - gules.
                               There is another mark of  disgrace  5. Or - Or.
                              which is due ouly to the traitor; this  6. Ppr - proper.
                              consists of  reversing the entire coat.  7.  Pur - purpure.
                               There  is  considerable speculation  8.  Sa - sable.
                             as to whetber these abatements were  9.  Ve - vert.
                             ever  used.  Guillim  describes  them   Other  tinctures,  furs etc.  are not
                             as  ' these  whimsical  abatements ',  abbreviated.
                 1
                 I           but as îhe marks only applied to the   In  the  case  of  tricking  anns  in
                              unfortunate  bearer  of  the arms and  order  to  save  space  and  avoid  any
                             they were designed to keep him  out  chance of  error  the  abbreviations
                              of  public life, this they must success-  ar  and  B  are  used  for  silver  and
                             fully  have  doue  and  it  js  probable  blue  (azure)  instead  of  those  Iisted
                              that tbey were use..             above.
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