Page 31 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

Bendwise - An expression used -to Billet - A small oblong figure gener-
to describe the position of a number ally supposed to represent a letter;
its proportion being hvo squares.
of charges placed in bend.
Bendy - Describes a field or charge Bfflett6 - Semé of billets.
divided bendwise into an even
Bird bolt - A blunt headed arrow
nurnber of parts. The number
used in early days for shooting
required must be so stated in the
birds. As the number of heads varies
blazon.
the blazon should mention if more
than one are required.
Bengal Tiger - The traditional tiger
which appears occasionally in Her-
Birds - There are numerous differ-
aldry more particularly perhaps as a
ent species of birds used as charges,
crest or supporter.
but by far the most important is the
eagle which may be portrayed in a
Be~on - A bird bolt.
number of different positions, for
example, an eagle displayed is one
Bevilled - A line of partition occa-
with bis wings, legs and talons out-
sionally found in Heraldry com-
stretched on either side of his body
mencing from the dexter side it runs
which is affront6 and bis head faces
approximately 7/12 horizontally to-
the dexter. He may be displayed
wards the dexter then backwards
with two heads. He rnay be shown
and upwards at an angle of 45O
in flight, in which case he is
approximately i) of the width of the
' volant '. He may be standing with
shield then, at an angle of 45*, it
his wings closed, as an ' eagle close ',
continues horizontally across to the
or if he stands with wings partly
sinister.
opened he is an ' eagle rising '.
One will occasionally find an
Bezant - A roundlet Or. It repre-
eagle's head eitl~er cooped or erased
serits the old coin of Byzantium and
and as a diminutive the word eaglets
should therefore, unlike most of the
will be applied when there are more
other roundlers, be emblazoned as a
than one or if they are to be white
flat object. It was introduced into
in colour they wiil be known as
En.glish Heraldry by the crusaders.
A -
osprevs.
As with the lion, the eagle may be
Bezant6 - An expression describjng
anned and languecl, or his legs rnay
a field which is strewn with bezants.
be said to be ' membered ' of a
different tincture.
Bi-corporate - Having two bodies Another bird which is frequently
but only one head. seen is the falcon, and this is under-
standable because the sport of
Billl - An instrument used by wood- hawking was adopted by so many
men for the purpose of lopping trees. of the mediaeval knights. The falcon
The head alone is more frequent as is generally shown on a perch with
a charge than the entire instrument. his wings close but they may be ele-
vated and addorsed and whatever
Bill Aook - Rather simiIar to the the position, the falcon is always
bdl (q.v.) but with a short handle belled and jessed which term refers
and therefore generally emblazoned to the bel1 and straps used in the old
complete. time sport. Other birds to be found