A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN HERALDRY by JAMES PARKER

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Wagon: this charge seems to occur only in the coat of arms of one family.

Argent, on a bend engrailed sable a wagon of the first[and a mullet for difference(?)]--BINNING, Scotland.

Wake's Knot. See Cords.
Wales: the armorial insignia assigned to Wales generally are those of South Wales only. Those of North Wales are distinct.

Quarterly gules and or, four lions passant gardant counterchanged--SOUTH WALES.
Argent, three lions passant gardant in pale gules, their tails passed between their hind legs and reflected over their backs--NORTH WALES[MS. Harl. 4199].

Wall, (sometimes called a dyke, fr. mur): this is generally found named in connection with castles or towns which are walled(muraillé). A wall of this kind should be masoned(fr. maçonné) and embattled(fr. crenellé), even though this be not specified.

    Argent, a tower flanked by a wall and two turrets gules--DAMAN.
    Gules, a tower embattled with a round roof between two other turrets standing on a wall extended in fesse, arched inarched ... --BRIDGMORE.
    .... On a mount rising out of water a castle with three towers embattled and domed and joined to each other by a circular wall ... --Seal of the town of BOSNEY, Cornwall.
    Or, a dyke[or wall] fesswise[masoned proper] broken down in some places gules; on a chief sable three escallops of the first; in base a rose as the second--GRAHAM, Inchbrakie, Scotland[similar arms borne by GRÆME of Stapleton].

Wallet. See Palmer's Scrip and Purse.
Walnut: the leaves of this tree only have been observed.

    Sable, three walnut leaves or between two bendlets argent--WALLER, co. Berks.
    Argent, on a bend gules three walnut leaves of the first--UVEREY.
    Argent, a chevron between three walnut leaves[otherwise oak leaves] vert--TUYSTALE.

Wand. See Willow.
Warden. See Pear.
Warriated. See Champagne.
Wassail. See Bowl.
Wastel, or Wastel-cake. See under Basket.
Watchman. See Man.
Water: this occurs indirectly in many ways. It is conventionally represented by barry wavy argent and azure, and thus the roundle so tinctured is technically called a fountain, and is supposed to represent the water lying at the bottom of the well or spring.
The base of the shield is often made to represent the ocean(q.v.), and sometimes with ships sailing upon it. A river(fr. rivière) also is often introduced into coats of arms, and this especially in connection with bridges. An example of a ford will be found noticed under Bull, Camel &c., and possibly a pond is intended in the example given below, as borne by OHENLOYNE, though the tincture being vert it is doubtful. The loch is mentioned in one or two coats of arms(see those of LITHGOW under Otter). The singular device of Water-bubbles is also blazoned and figured in one Heraldic work as belonging to the name of BUBBLEWARD, but it is a question whether it occurs in actual Heraldry, or whether it is an invention of some fanciful writer.

BUBBLEWARD.

    Argent, three demi-lions gules issuant out of water proper--MULLIKEN, Scotland.
    Azure, in base water vert, thereon a bridge of three arches argent; on the centre a turret of the last flagged gules--VINICOMBE.
    Argent, a field and river proper, on the field a buck gules drinking in the river--BARNEVELT.
    Argent, a cross moline azure placed in a loch proper[?], and in chief two mullets of the second--MILLER, Gourlebank, Scotland.
    D'azur, à la rivière d'argent posée en fasce et chargée d'un bateau de même--BOUDET, Auvergne.
    Per fesse gules and water proper, a fesse arched with three towers or, all masoned sable[otherwise, Gules, on a fesse arched three towers or, all masoned sable]; in chief a fleur-de-lis between two roses of the second argent seeded gold; in base three ships with one mast and yard, each sable, two and one[otherwise, in base a river proper, thereon three vessels each with one mast and yardarm of the third]--Town of CAMBRIDGE.
    Or, in a pond(?) vert[otherwise, however, Or, on ground vert] a boar passant sable--OHENLOYNE[known as Hibernicus SYLVESTRIS].
    A tree, from the root whereof runs a spring of water; on the sinister thereof stands a stork picking up a fish, on the dexter is another bird resembling a Cornish chough--City of WELLS, co. Somerset[see also another under Wells].
    Per fesse, each piece argent; within its base barry wavy argent and azure three ducks swimming, their bills in the water or, waves of the second; over all on a fesse engrailed gules as many roses silver--REVERS. [From Glover's Ordinary.]
    Azure, three water-bubbles proper--AIRE.
    Argent, two bubbles and a third rising out of water in base--BUBBLEWARD. [From Berry's Encyclopœdia.]

Eearly forms of water-bougets.

Later forms of water bougets.

Water-bouget: a yoke with two large skins appended to it, formerly used for the conveyance of water to an army. It has been differently drawn at different periods, as the figures, which are arranged in something like chronological order, will shew. Many more slight varieties of form might be given, and as the form has varied so has the name. It is not easy to determine the primary form, but in the earlier rolls it is spelt, as will be seen by the examples, in a variety of ways, i.e. bouges, bouz, buzes, buz, bouces; and in rolls of Edw. III.'s reign we find bouges, boustes, bustes, and busteaux; oge is also found.

    William de ROOS, de goules, a trois bouges d'argent[in other copies, 'd'azur a trez buz d'or,' and 'trois bousses d'or']--Roll, temp. HEN. III.
    Robert de ROOS, de goules, a treis buz d'argent[in another copy, a trois buzes d'argent]--Ibid.
    Sire Johan de ROS, de goules, a iij bouces de sable--Roll, temp. ED. II.
    Sire Robert de ROS, de goules a iij bouces de ermyne--Ibid.

  Guillemes de ROS assemblans             I fu rouge o trois bouz blans.        
                                            Roll of Carlaverock.

    Monsire TRUSBUTT[elsewhere R. TRUSSEBUZ], d'argent, a une daunsy sable entre trois bouges sable[elsewhere blazoned 'tres boutz,' a play on the name]--Roll, temp. ED. III.
    Monsire de BINGHAM, port d'or, sur fes gules trois boustes d'argent--Ibid.
    Monsire de SAUNSCHEVERELL, port d'argent, une salter d'asur, au busteaux d'or en le salter--Ibid.
    Gules, a water-bouget argent--DELAMORE.
    Or, on two bars gules three water-bougets argent--WILLOUGHBY, co. Derby.
    Argent, a bend between two water-bougets sable--LOCKEY, Essex. co. Hereford; HOMES, co. Hertford; and co. York.

Dossers.

The term dossers is sometimes found; it is an old English term signifying some receptacle carried on the backs of men or of animals; and in the latter case equivalent to the term 'panniers;' so that the figures in the arms of BANNISTER are sometimes blazoned as baskets.

Sable, two dossers suspended by an annulet argent; on a chief gules three fleurs-de-lis or--BANESTER, Darwyn, co. Lancaster.
Argent, two buckets suspended by an annulet saltirewise sable between three fleurs-de-lis gules--BANISTER.

Finally, it will be seen that the same figures in the same coat of arms are blazoned as buckets(q.v.), and this is possibly the modern form of the ancient 'bougets.'
Water-cress. An example occurs of the leaves of this plant.

Quarterly; first and fourth three bendlets ermine; second and third gules, five water-cress leaves in saltire argent--GUEVERA, Lincoln. [Granted or allowed 1617.]

Water-leaves. See Leaves.
Water-pots. See Pots, as well as Water-bougets.
Waterhouses. See Well.
Wattled: of the gills of a cock when of a different tincture.
Waves. See Ocean.
Wavy. See Undy.
Weasel, (fr. belette): besides the common weasel(mustela vulgaris) the marten(mustela martes; fr. martre), as well as the variety with the white throat, the foine(mustela foina; fr. fouine) are found in blazon; and more important than all, the ermine, q.v. (mustela erminea; fr. hermine), which has supplied the most common of the furs used in heraldry.

    Argent, a fesse gules; in the dexter chief point a weasel passant proper--BELET.
    Gules, three weasels courant argent--SCHOPPIN.
    Sable, a chevron ermine between three weasels passant argent--BYRTWYSELL, Amcote Hall, co. Lancaster.
    Argent, a foine[? marten] sable, on a chief indented gules three escallops or--MARTEN, Sussex.
    Or, on a chief vert an ermine passant proper--WATSON, Newport, Salop.
    De gueules, à une hermine au naturel, passante, accolée d'un manteau d'hermine, doublé de toile d'or voletant--Ville de VANNES, Bretagne.
    De gueules, à une grille d'or, supportant une hermine passante d'argent--Ville de S.MALO.

Weathercock. See Vane.
Weavers' Implements: these are of various kinds, viz. the spindle, the shuttle, the slea, the burling-iron, the shears, and the teazel, and it will be found that several of these are borne by families apart from the COMPANIES OF WEAVERS.

Azure, on a chevron argent between three leopard's heads or, each having in the mouth a shuttle of the last, as many roses gules seeded of the third barbed vert--WEAVERS' COMPANY OF LONDON; Inc. temp. Hen. I., arms granted 1487.
Per saltire azure and gules, in fesse two shuttles filled paleways or; in chief a teazel; in base a pair of shears lying fessways argent; on a chief ermine a slea between two burling-irons of the third--Company of WEAVERS, Exeter.

TREFUSIS.

The spindle is, perhaps, better known in its conventional and heraldic shape as the fusil(q.v.), but it is represented in its natural form also, as the reference to the 'threading' or to the 'slippers' implies.

    Argent, a chevron between three wharrow spindles sable--TREFUSIS, Cornwall.
    Argent, three spindles in fesse threaded or--BADLAND.
    Argent, three fusils upon slippers gules--HOBY, Neath Abbey, co. Glamorgan; HOBBY, co. Berks.
    Argent, a chevron between three spindles of silk sable--DARDAS.
    Azure, three spindles of silk or; a canton ermine--BISHOPTON.

Weaver's shuttle.

SHUTTLEWORTH.

The Weaver's shuttle(fr. navette) is represented as in the margin, and is borne by several families.

    Azure, on a fesse argent between two bees volant in chief proper and in base a wolf's head couped or, a wheel-shuttle in fesse, also proper--MILLER, Preston, co. Lancaster; granted 1821.
    Or, fretty azure; on a chief of the last a bee volant between two shuttles in pale of the first--HORROCKS, co. Lancaster.
    Argent, three weaver's shuttles sable, tipped and furnished with quills of yarn, the threads pendent or--SHUTTLEWORTH, co. Lancashire and Yorkshire; also by SHUTTLEWORTH, Bp. of Chichester, 1840-42.
    Argent, three weaver's shuttles in fesse sable--SHAKERLEY.
    Azure, three shuttles or, quills argent--PEIRSON.

Weaver's slay.

The Weaver's slay, or slea, or reed, as this instrument appears to be also called, was borne only as the insignia of the Company exercising their craft at Exeter. It was represented as in the margin.
The burling-irons(q.v.) represented on either side of the slea have already been figured, and it will be seen they are borne by private families for the sake of the play on the name.

Weaver's shears.

The Weaver's shears, used in the process of dressing cloth, were usually represented as in the margin, and the same figure will often be found on brasses and incised slabs in churches, emblematic of the man's trade. They are somewhat different from the Scissors, q.v., borne by the TAILORS' Company of Edinburgh.

Azure, a chevron between in chief two swans, and in base a pair of shears argent--DELANEY; also LANNOY, Hammersmith.

The teazel has been already noticed under Thistle, and it is adopted by the CLOTH-WORKERS' as well as by the Exeter WEAVERS' Company.

PROCTOR.

Wedge: this is one of the irregular and doubtful terms sometimes made use of. The charges may, after all, in some of the cases be only intended for nails, q.v., but being badly drawn have misled the heralds. Another name given in heraldic books to the same figure is the stone-bill.

    Or, three wedges[? nails] sable--PROCTOR, Norfolk.
    Vert, three wedges[? nails] argent--ISHAM, Northumberland.
    Argent, on a chevron between three wedges sable five mullets of the first--WADGE, Upton, Lewanneck.
    Argent, a chevron between three wedges[or piles] sable--PEGGE, Beauchief Abbey.
    Argent, a chevron between three stone-bills sable--BILLESBY.

Weel.

Fish-basket.

Weel: Fish-weel or Fish-basket is a contrivance still used in rivers to catch fish. The charges appear to be drawn in various ways, but of those shewn in the margin the first is the more ordinary form of a weel, while the second seems to be usually blazoned a fish-basket. The terms eel-pots, weir-baskets, occur in describing certain crests, and they have been mistaken for flasks, jars, &c., e.g. in the arms of WILLARD.

    Or, a chevron between two fish-baskets[weels or eel-pots]--FOLEBARNE.
    Argent, a chevron ermine between three fish-baskets, hoops outwards vert--WYLLEY, 1716.
    Per bend gules and azure, a fish-basket weel, or eel-pot in bend or; on a chief azure a wolf's head erased sable between two ogresses--WHEELER, co. Worcester.
    Gyronny of eight, gules and or, a fish-weel in fesse sable--FORTON.
    Argent, on a chevron sable between three flasks or jars[they are weels] proper five ermine spots of the first--WILLARD, Eastbourne, Sussex.
    A weir-basket filled with fish--Seal of William WEARE, of Weare Gifford, Devonshire.
    An eel-pot per pale argent and vert--The Badge of Lord WILLIAMS of Thame(now borne by the Earl of Abingdon).

ZORVIS.

Weir, or Wear: a dam, or fence against water, formed of stakes interlaced by twigs or osier.

Argent, a weir vert--ZORVIS of that Ilk, Scotland.
A wivern with wings endorsed gules, standing on a fish-weir devouring a chief and pierced through the neck with an arrow--Crest of family of VENABLES, Kinderton, Cheshire.

Welk. See Whelk.

Well.

Well, (fr. puits): the well with masonry round it, is sometimes borne as figured in the margin; though the roundle called a fountain(q.v.) is an heraldic representation of the same thing, and is accordingly borne by several families in allusion to the meaning. At the same time it is by no means clear always what is meant, as apparently the same arms are found blazoned as having in one case fountains, in another wells. A stone fountain appears to be undoubtedly a well. The term cold well found blazoned in the arms of CALDWELL is but an ordinary well; and water-houses, in which the devices are probably intended for stone-built conduits.

    Gules, three wells argent, masoned sable--HADISWELL.
    Azure, a fesse between three wells argent--HODSALL.
    Azure, a fesse wavy between three stone fountains argent--HODSOLL, London and Kent.
    Gules, three square wells argent, water azure--HODISWELL.
    Sable, three round wells argent--BOXTON.
    Argent, out of a well gules an oak-tree vert--WELLWOOD, co. Fife.
    Vert, a heron argent drinking from a well tenne--Arms ascribed to St.Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1186-1200.
    Per fesse argent and vert, a tree proper issuing from the fesse line; in base three wells two and one masoned--A variation of the insignia of the City of WELLS, co. Somerset.
    Per pale azure and sable, a hart's head couped or, and in chief three cold[?] wells proper--CALDWELL, Glasgow.
    Gules, three wells[or water-houses] argent, the doors sable; the water undy of six argent and azure--Old arms of WATERHOUSE, Conisborough, co. York.

Wervels, or Varvells. See under Falcon.

Whale's head erased.

WHALLEY ABBEY.

Whale, (fr. baleine): this mammal was considered as one of the great fish of the sea, but so far as has been observed, it rarely occurs beyond the arms of the families of WHALLEY, and the insignia of the Abbey of that name.
The head is represented as in the margin, but the French heralds are said to draw it with teeth gules, and to blazon the animal as fierté. The head occurs also as a crest.

    Gules, three whales haurient or, in the mouth of each a crosier[otherwise vorant as many crosiers] of the last--WHALLEY ABBEY, co. Lancaster[founded 1309].
    Ermine, on a bend sable three whale's heads erased or--WHALLEY.
    Argent, three whale's heads erased and erect or--WHALLEY.
    Or, two bars wavy, and in chief three whale's heads erect and erased sable--COLBECK, co. Bedford.
    Per pale azure and purpure, three whale's heads erased or, each ingulphant of a spear-head argent--Sir Hugh VAUGHAN, Littleton, Middlesex[temp. HEN. VIII.]

Wharrow. See Weaver's.

Ear of Wheat.

Wheat, (fr. blé): this was represented in the older arms in sheaves only, to which the name Garb was given; and under this term wheat continued to be most frequently represented. Some early examples have been given under Garb, q.v. In later examples it will be seen they are often banded of another tincture. When the term proper is used it probably signifies or.
In later arms ears of wheat or corn have been adopted as devices(and may be represented as in the margin), and of other grains, such as barley, oats, and rye. When bearded they are said to be aulned. To the stalk and ear thus borne the French give the name epis, and when the stalk is of a different tincture it is tigé of such tincture.
The wheat in the arms of the family of GRAUNDORGE(whose name is spelt in a variety of ways) is found blazoned guinea-wheat, but no doubt from the name[i.e. grain d'orge] barley grain is intended. It may be that from a play on the name(grand) the term big-wheat arose, a term adopted in blazoning the arms of BIGLAND and BIGNELL, but White Kennett notes big as a kind of barley.

    Azure, a wheatsheaf between three thistles or, all within a bordure of the last--BAIN, Berwick.
    Gules, two garbs in saltire or, banded azure--SERJEANTS' INN, Fleetstreet.
    Gules, three garbs in bend or, within two bendlets argent and between two lozenges vair--RICKARDS, Westminster.
    Vert, a garb banded, and bowed in the head proper--BOWER.
    Sable, five garbs in cross or--MEREFIELD, London.
    Gules fretty or, on a canton azure two ears of wheat slipped without blades of the second--WHYSHAW, Lees, co. Chester.
    Argent, on a fesse gules between six martlets sable three ears of wheat stalked and leaved or--GILLIOT.
    Ermine, on three bars humetty sable fifteen wheat ears or, five and five--STOKES.
    Sable, two bars ermine between fifteen wheat ears or, five, five and five, a bordure of the second--STOKES.
    Per bend sinister azure and argent; on the dexter side three ears of wheat on one stalk or; and on the sinister side three fleurs-de-lis one and two of the first--SOLTAU, co. Devon.
    Gules, a chevron between nine ears of wheat tied in three parcels or--JOHN WHEATHAMSTEAD, Abbot of S.Albans, ob. 1464.
    Azure, a chevron argent between three ears of corn as the second slipped and bladed or--Thomas EYRE, co. Buckingham, granted 1476.
    Ermine; on a chief vert three wheat-sheaves[i.e. garbs] argent--PROSSER.
    Vert, on a fesse between three bundles of wheat(or barley), each consisting of as many stalks, one erect and two in saltire or, a greyhound courant argent pied proper--MATCHAM.
    D'azur, au fer de moulin d'argent, accosté de deux epis de blé d'or, les tiges passées en sautoir vers la pointe de l'ecu--JACOBE DE NAUROIS, Champagne.
    Azure, three ears of guinea-wheat couped and bladed or, two and one--GRAUNDORGE, Donington, co. Lincoln.
    Azure, two ears of big-wheat in fesse, stalked and bladed or--Ralph BIGLAND[afterwards] Garter, to whom they were granted 1760.
    Ermine, a lion rampant gules, on a chief azure an ear of big-wheat couped and bladed or, between two estoiles argent--BIGNELL, Salisbury.

Barley is specified in some cases as in the insignia of the BREWERS of London and Exeter; the garbs are sometimes blazoned as barley garbs, but they are not distinguishable from others. (See Tun.)

    Gules, three cups or, in the middle fesspoint as many ears of barley, two in saltire and one in pale of the last--GOODALLE, Scotland.
    Quarterly, 1 and 4; azure, a dolphin embowed between three ears of barley or, a bordure engrailed of the second; 2 and 3, argent, three eel spears, tynes upwards sable; on a chief azure a lion passant gardant or--John FISHER, Bp. of Rochester, 1504.
    Gules, on a chevron argent between three handsfull of barley ears(each containing five) or three bees proper--SMITH, Yarmouth, Norfolk, granted 1722.

Mention is made of oats(fr. avoine) at an early date, when the term aveye is used(see under Garb), and one or two instances occur in later coats of arms. Heraldic writers say the term rizom should be applied to the ears of oats.

    Sire .... de BEUMEYS, de azure, a les garbes de aveye de or--Roll, temp. ED. II.
    Azure, three oat-sheaves or--BENNIS, Clare, Ireland.
    Argent, on a bend azure three oat-sheaves or--OTTLEY, co. Salop.
    Quarterly, first and fourth; argent, on a bend azure three oat-sheaves or, second and third argent, an eagle displayed sable--Adam OTLEY, Bp. of St.David's, 1713-23.

Rye.

The rye is distinguished from other grain by representing the ear drooping, as shewn in the margin. It is used by one or two families on account of the play upon the name.

    Gules, on a bend argent three rye-stalks sable--RYE, Suffolk, 1716.
    Argent, a chevron gules between three ears of rye proper, slipped and bladed vert--RIDALE[or RIDELL] Scotland; Baronetcy. 1628.
    Argent, a fesse between three rye-sheaves azure--RIDDELL, co. Northumberland.
    Argent, five stalks or rye growing out of the ground in base vert--AHRENDS.

BELVOIR.

Wheel, (fr. roue): the more frequent charge is the Katherine-wheel, the instrument of the martyrdom of S.Katherine, represented as in the arms of BELVOIR.

    Azure, a Katherine-wheel or--BELVOIR, co. Lincoln; also WYTHERTON.
    Azure, a Katherine-wheel between two columns or; in chief a regal crown proper; in base an axe argent, handled of the second, lying fessways, the blades downwards[S.Katherine with her wheel is the crest of the same Company]--TURNERS' COMPANY, [Inc. 1604].
    Gules, a Katherine-wheel or--S.KATHERINE'S HALL, Cambridge, [founded 1475].
    Per fesse gules and azure; in chief a sword barwise argent, hilt and pomel to the dexter side or; in base a demi-Katherine-wheel of the last divided fessways, the circular part towards the chief--S.KATHERINE'S HOSPITAL, London.
    Azure, a Katherine-wheel with a Cross Calvary projecting from it in chief argent--Augustinian Nunnery, FLIXTON, Suffolk.
    Azure, two bars or, in chief a Katherine-wheel between as many buglehorns argent--MERTINS, Lord Mayor of London.
    Gules, three bars argent, on a chief azure three Katherine-wheels or--LEPTON, co. York.
    Argent, on a chief azure two Katherine-wheels of the first--WHEELER, co. Salop.
    Azure, a sword argent, between three Katherine-wheels or--BAYLE.
    D'azur, à trois roues de Sainte Catherine d'or--CATHERINE, Bourgoyne.

Other wheels are found named, i.e. the Cart-wheel, usually of eight spokes. In one case the Water-wheel is named, and for Mill-wheels see under Mill.

MARTEJOYS.

    Gules, a wheel of eight spokes or--MARTEJOYS.
    Gules, a fesse between three cart-wheels or--CARRINGTON, co. York.
    Gules, a chevron between three wheels or; on a chief argent an axe lying fessways proper--WHEELWRIGHTS' Company, [Inc. 1670].
    Azure, a horse argent, bridled gules, between three wheels or--MORCRAFT.
    Or, a camel statant sable, between three half-wheels azure; on a chief of the third a wheel argent enclosed by two bezants--John WHEELER, Stoke, Surrey, 1543. [From Glover's Ordinary.]
    Argent, a wheel or, vert between the spokes--LLES AP COEL.
    Azure, a wheel of a watermill or; on a canton of augmentation the royal badge of England and Scotland, viz. the rose and thistle conjoined palewise proper--DE MOLINE, Ambassador from the Doge of Venice, temp. King James.

Wheel shuttles. See Weaver's.

Whelk.

Whelk: this mollusc is borne by several branches of the SHELLEY family, and some others, and may be represented as in the margin.

    Argent, a chevron gules between three whelks sable--SHELLEY, co. Lincoln.
    Sable, a fesse engrailed between three whelk-shells or--Sir John SHELLEY, co. Sussex.
    Sable, on a fesse engrailed or between three whelks argent, as many maiden's heads proper crined of the second--SHELLEY.
    Gules, a chevron[otherwise a fesse] vair between three whelk-shells or--WILKINSON, co. Durham; granted 1538.
    Gules, on a chevron between three whelks argent as many demi-lions rampant sable--WILKINS, Kent.
    Sable, on a fesse argent three whelks lying fessways gules--JOCE.

Whip: this has been observed only in one case.

Gules, three whips of three lashes, each argent--SWIFT, Scotland.

Whirlpool. See Gurges.

Lord HAWKE.

Whistle: the Boatswain's whistle occurs as a charge in the insignia of the Newcastle Company, and on the arms of Baron HAWKE.

Argent, an anchor pendent azure, the ring and timber[i.e. crosspiece] or; on a chief of the second a boatswain's whistle and chain of the third, the chain supporting the anchor--MASTERS' and MARINERS' Company, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Argent, a chevron erminois between three boatswain's whistles azure--HAWKE, co. York; Barony, 1776.

White. See Colour; also Argent.
White nun. See Duck.
Whitethorn. See Hawthorn.
Whiting. See Cod.
Whittal's-head: a fanciful device used as a crest. See under Head.
Wild duck. See Duck.
Wild man. See Man.
Willow-tree: this is found named, as also the Salix(for the sake of the name) and Osiers; for the branches of the last the term wands is used.

    Argent, a willow-tree vert--BENNISON.
    Argent, six osier wands(or bastons) interlaced in saltirewise in true love(sometimes in cross) proper, [i.e. sable]--Walter SKIRLAWE, Bishop of Lichfield, 1386; Bath, 1386; Durham, 1388-1406.
    Argent, a chevron gules between three willow-trees proper--WILLIS, Dean of Worcester, ob. 1596.
    Or, a salix proper[quarterly with the arms of Fane, &c.]--Count DE SALIS.
    Argent, five palets couped at the top, wrapped with osiers in fesse gules, fretty in base with a serpent vert; in chief three roses--ANGUISH.
    Argent, four wands[otherwise bendlets] interlaced in saltire azure between four eagles displayed ... --Seal of R. D. HAMPDEN, Bishop of Hereford, 1847-68.

Wimble. See Auger.
Windmills, (fr. moulin a vent), and windmill-sails, occur in armoury. They vary in the drawing at different periods and even in different examples of the same date.

    Or, on a mount vert a windmill sable--SAMPSON.
    Per pale sable and azure, a windmill or--Walter LEPULL, co. Dorset.
    Azure, a chevron or between three windmill-sails crosswise argent--MILNES, Scotland.
    Argent, four windmill-sails conjoined in saltire sable--BAXTER.

Windows: mentioned incidentally under Castle, Church, &c.

Wine-piercer.

Wine-piercer, or Wine-broach, is borne by two families; the same charge appears also to be blazoned both as a fret and as a gimlet. (See Awl.)

    Argent, a chevron azure between three frets[or wine-piercers] of the second, screws or--BUTLER, co. Sussex.
    Argent, a chevron engrailed[azure] between three frets[otherwise wine-piercers] or, the handles sable, banded gold--BOTELLER[Harl. MS. 1404].
    Argent, a chevron between three gimlets azure, the screws or--BUTELLER, Harl. MS. 1386.
    Argent, on a chevron gules a fret[wine-broach or piercer] of the first--CLAPHAM.

Wine-press: this has been observed but in one instance.

Argent, a wine-press gules--ANHAULT.

Winged bull. See under Pegasus.

A dexter wing.

Wings conjoined, (fr.vol).

Wings conjoined in lure.

Wings, (fr. ailes), occur frequently as heraldic devices. If no description is given or implied the wing must be drawn like an eagle's wing, and with the tip upwards. Wings are borne singly, or two are conjoined. In the former case it must be stated whether it is a dexter or a sinister wing.
In the latter case, when the term conjoined alone is used, it is said to be equivalent to the French vol, that is, the wings are placed with the tips upwards, back to back, and joined at the base. When the term conjoined in lure is used(and this is more frequently the case), then they should be drawn with the points downwards, and joined at the top.

    Gules, three[dexter] wings elevated argent--NEWPORT.
    Argent, three sinister wings gules--SEXTON.
    Argent, a fesse between three sinister wings sable--DARBY, Walton, co. Leicester.
    Azure, three bars argent, on a chief of the last as many pair of wings conjoined gules--FLEMING.
    Argent, a stag trippant surmounted by a tree eradicated vert; on a chief azure two wings expanded and conjoined of the field--RENNY.
    Gules, a pair of wings conjoined in lure[otherwise inverted and conjoined] or--SAINT-MAUR.
    Argent, on a pale azure three pairs of wings conjoined in lure of the first--B. POTTER, Bp. of Carlisle, 1629-1642.
    Gules, five marlion's wings in saltire argent--Sir Arthur PORTER of Newark(Guillim, 1612, p. 225).
    D'azur, à la fasce d'or chargée d'un lion leopardé de gueules, accompagnée en pointe de deux vols d'or--PASSERAT DE SILANS, Bugey.

Wings, too, are very often attached to animals, &c., and though eagle's wings are generally intended, the dragon's wing is sometimes distinctly named; for the mode of drawing see under Cockatrice, Griffin, &c. In the Evangelistic symbols the Lion and Bull are represented with wings, as well as the Angel and the Eagle.

    Argent, a wivern with wings endorsed gules between two flaunches of the last--DRAKE.
    Argent, a stag trippant with wings attached to the buttocks and hind legs proper, between the attires a rose or--JONES, co. Brecknock.
    Paly of six or and azure, a fesse chequy argent and sable, on a canton gules a dragon's wing erect of the third, in base a sword proper, pomel and hilt gold, surmounting a silver key in saltire--CURTIS[Lord Mayor of London, 1796].
    Argent, a fesse counter-compony or and azure between three roses gules; on a chief of the second as many lion's gambs fixed to dragon's sinister wings sable; all within a bordure gobony of the third and purpure--WHITTINGTON.

But the wings play an important part in the description of birds. For them heralds have devised quite a system of nomenclature, though, as a matter of fact, it is to a very slight degree put in practice, the choice of terms being very arbitrary, and the mode of drawing, perhaps, more so.
Practically where the wings were open, if they had been described as downwards or elevated it would have met all real requirements, but accidental differences in drawing seem to have given occasion for a pedantic nomenclature, which has naturally become confused because it has had no foundation in fact. It has, however, been thought necessary to give a list of the terms, and attempt some account of what is probably intended by them.

Expansed.

    Displayed(fr. éployé; old fr. espanié) signifies that the wings are somewhat open, with the points upwards. In nine cases out of ten the eagle is so represented, and it is generally allowed that even when no description is given to the eagle it should be drawn displayed. (See engraving under Eagle.)
    Similar to displayed is expanded or expansed, and some writers contend that while the first term is applicable only to the eagle or other birds of prey, the latter terms should be employed for birds of a tamer kind, but such distinction appears to be theoretical; and in connection with this it may be noted that displayed is generally applied to the Bat or reremouse(q.v.), as also to the Cockatrice.
    Examples of displayed will be found under Eagle, Pelican, and Dove, and of expanded under Eagle, Swan, Stork, and Heathcock.

    Azure, six seagulls, three, two, and one argent, the dexter wing displayed, the sinister close--APILBY, co. Salop.
    Argent, an eagle, wings expanded gules, standing on the trunk of a tree raguly vert--PORTER.
    Gules, a swan, wings expanded argent--DALE, co. Northumberland.
    Argent, a chevron between three ravens expansed sable--ROOKEBY.
    Argent, a reremouse displayed sable--BAXTER, Scotland.
    Sable, a cockatrice displayed argent, crested, membered, and wattled gules--BOGAN, co. Devon.

Disclosed.

Disclosed, on the other hand, is used of a bird with the wings open but pointing downwards. At the same time it will be found that such expressions as displayed downwards(see example under Eagle), displayed inverted(see example under Pelican), and expanded inverted(see under Dove), are also used with the same meaning.
It seems, too, that the expression overt or overture, flottant, and hovering practically mean the same thing, i.e. with the wings open but bent downwards. The expression overt is often employed in conjunction with others, e.g. with rising. The expression also overt inverted will be observed. An example of hovering and of overt will be found under Falcon, and of overture under Eagle.

    Vert, a parrot, wings disclosed, holding up the left foot or--ANTICK.
    Gules, on a canton argent a bird, wings expanded[or overt] and inverted sable--HUTTON.
    Argent, a chevron gules between three sea-pies rising overt inverted brown--TREVENOUR.

Where the expression preying or trussing(fr. empiétant) is used, the bird should be represented with the wings overt inverted. See illustration of a hawk trussing under Falcon.

Rising.

Another term very frequently used is Rising(fr. essorant), meaning that the bird is opening its wings as if prepared to take flight. Surgerant, as also soaring and levant, mean the same. The word roussant, given by some writers, but not observed in any blazon, is said to be restricted to birds attempting to fly whose weight renders them unable to do so: so also some writers use the technical word collying for falcons, &c., when about to rise.
Examples of Rising will be found under Goose, Cornish Chough, Stork, Bustard, and Dove, and combined with other terms under Eagle and Falcon.

    Quarterly ermine and azure, in the second and third quarters an eagle rising[otherwise volant] or--ADAMS.
    Argent, a fesse humetty gules between three ravens rising sable--PEIRCE, London.
    Or, three birds(probably lapwings) surgerant ... a bordure vert--Sir Rhys HEN, co. Caernarvon.
    Gules, on a chief or two swallows rising overt proper--SPEED, London.
    Quarterly gules and vert, a dove rising, wings overt inverted, between three round buckets or--BRAMSTON.
    Quarterly ermine and azure; in the second quarter an eagle rising wings overt inverted; and in the third quarter another rising wings displayed or--Sir Adam de BERRY.

Endorsed.

Endorsed with its synonym sepurture signifies that the wings are only slightly elevated, but thrown back so as almost to touch each other.

    Argent, on a raven, wings endorsed proper between four cross crosslets fitchy, one, two and one, anther gules--CROSS.
    Gules, on a fesse wavy, between three swans with wings endorsed argent, as many crosses patty sable, each charged with five bezants--LANE, London.
    Sable, a chevron ermine between three pelicans with wings endorsed or--MEDDOWES.

Erect.

Erect probably means that the points of the wings are raised higher than in endorsed. Examples will be found under Eagle.

Gules, four swans erect argent--ROOSE, co. Cornwall.
Argent, on a chevron engrailed gules, between in chief two birds with wings erect and in base an anchor or, five bezants--BOASE, co. Cornwall.

Elevated perhaps means something between endorsed and erect.

Azure, a chevron between three mallards, wings elevated[otherwise swans rising] argent--WOLRICH, co. Suffolk.
Azure, a pelican, wings elevated or, vulning her breast gules, between three fleurs-de-lis of the second--KEMPTON, co. Cambridge.

Volant.

    Volant is a term used to signify that the wings are extended in a horizontal position, and representing the bird in full flight. The head should be towards the dexter, unless otherwise expressed. (See under Swallow.) The position of birds so borne may be distinguished from rising, by their legs being drawn up towards their bodies.
    Volant en arrière seems to be used of insects rather than of birds, and signifies that they have their back to the spectator. Volant recursant means the same, but the head should be slightly turned round; and Diversely volant, i.e. flying about in different directions is applied to bees. (See under Beehive.)
    Examples of volant will be found under Eagle, Heathcock, Raven, Rook, &c.

    Argent, a fesse azure between three birds volant gules--TREWINCAN.
    Gules, an eagle volant recursant in bend, wings overt or--BEES.
    Argent, a heron volant in fesse azure membered or--HERONDON.
    Azure, a chevron argent between three martlets volant or--BYERS.

Last of all we have the wings Close(fr. plié), that is with the wings closed towards the bird. See examples under Eagle, Falcon, Goose, Barnacle-goose, Swan, Sea-fowl, Stork, Lapwing, Parrot, Kingfisher, &c., under several of which Illustrations will be found, as well as under Heathcock, Heron, Moorcock, Owl, Raven, &c.
All birds are to be represented close when not otherwise described, except eagles, which were in ancient arms nearly always represented displayed; as to swans, in the old cognizance they were represented open or close very indifferently.
Winnowing-basket. See Basket.
Wire: a bundle of occurs in the insignia of one Company.

Azure, on a mount vert a square brazen pillar supported on the dexter by a lion rampant regardant, and on the sinister by a dragon segreant, both or; in chief, on the top of the pillar a bundle of wire tied and bound together of the last between a bezant on the dexter side and a plate on the sinister--SOCIETY OF MINERAL AND BATTERY WORKS, London; incorporated 1568.

Wire-drawers' implements: these occur only in the insignia of the London Company of WIRE-DRAWERS.

Copper.

The copper round which the wire was drawn; two of these are borne in chief.

Point.

The point; two of these, crossed in saltire, are borne in base.

Drawing-iron.

The drawing iron, through which the wire has to pass. With this the chevron is charged.

Ring.

Also the two rings. All of the above are shewn in the margin.

Azure, on a chevron or, between in chief two coppers of the second, and in base two points in saltire argent, a drawing-iron between two rings sable--Company of GOLD AND SILVER WIRE-DRAWERS.

Engrossing block.

To these may be added the engrossing block, as it is termed, and which appears as their crest.

Two arms embowed, vested gules, cuffed argent, holding between the hands proper an engrossing block or--Crest of the above Company.

Wisals. See Turnip.
Wolf, (fr. loup): this animal is found in a good many arms, and also in a few early instances, being adopted by families into whose names some form of the word 'Lou' enters. The head is, perhaps, more frequently borne than the whole animal. It may be rampant, salient, combatant, statant, but most frequently simply passant, &c. It occurs also very frequently in crests, especially the head.

LOWE.

    Gules, a wolf passant argent--LOWE, co. Wilts.
    Sire Johan LE LOW, de argent a ij barres de goules, en le chef iij testes de lou de goules--Roll, temp. ED. II.
    Sire William VIDELOU, de argent a iij testes de lou de goules--Ibid.
    Gules, three wolf's heads couped or--LOCARD, Ireland.
    Argent, three wolves passant sable--LOVATT, co. Stafford.
    Argent, a chevron between three wolf's heads erased gules--LOVELL, Norfolk.
    On a bend three wolf's heads erased--John LOWE, Bp. of S.Asaph, 1433, afterwards of Rochester, 1444-67.
    Sable, a wolf salient, and in chief three estoiles or--Thomas WILSON, Bp. of Sodor and Man, 1697-1755.
    Azure, a wolf rampant argent collared and chained or; in chief three crosses patty fitchy of the second--BUSHE, co. Wilts.
    Gules, a chevron ermine between three wolves, the two in chief combatant or--GRENFORD.
    Azure, a war-wolf passant and three stars in chief argent--DICKISON, Scotland.
    Gules, a demi-wolf proper issuing to the sinister, feet erected each side of the head argent--BETWILL.
    D'argent, à deux loups de sable, l'un sur l'autre[=in pale]; et une bordure denchée de gueules--DE SALVE, Provence.

Woman, bust of. See Heads.
Wood, (fr. forêt): a small group of trees(generally on a mount) is found named in heraldry under various terms, e.g. a wood, a grove(see grove of firs under Pine), or a thicket, and in one case a forest. The term 'hurst,' too, means the same thing, and perhaps bowers in the arms of GILLAM.

    Argent, a lion sejant in a wood all proper; on a chief wavy gules a harp between two anchors or--WOOD, Ireland[conf. 1647].
    Or, on a mount a stag lodged in a grove of trees proper, on a chief gules a cinquefoil between two mullets of the field--FERNIE, Scotland.
    Gules, a stag argent lodged in a thicket of trees vert; between the attires three stars of the second--FAIRNIE, Scotland.
    Argent, out of a mount in base a forest of trees vert--BUSCHE, also FORREST.
    Argent, in base a mount vert, on the sinister side a hurst of oak-trees, therefrom issuant a wolf passant proper[otherwise, Argent, a wolf issuing from a wood proper]--O'CALLAGHAN, Ireland.
    Argent, on a mount in base a hurst proper; on a chief wavy azure three fleurs-de-lis or--FRANCE, Bostock Hall, co. Chester.
    Sable, on a chevron or, between three dolphins embowed proper, as many bowers vert--GILLAM, Essex.
    D'argent, à une forêt de sinople--Ville de NEMOURS, Ile de France.

Wood-doves. See Doves.
Wood-pigeon. See Dove.
Woodbill. See Bill.
Woodbine. See Honeysuckle.
Woodman. See Man.
Woodwallis. See Parrot.

Wool-card.

Stock-card.

Wool-card: an instrument used for combing wool, represented as in the margin, and differing, as will be seen, from the wool-comb.
It is said that the stock-card is a similar tool used by wool-combers, and is represented as below. The blazon both of the arms of CARDINGTON and LAYNNE is taken from Glover's Ordinary.

    Ermine, three wool-cards gules--ALVERINGE.
    Sable, three wool-cards[otherwise working-cards], teeth outwards or--CARDINGTON.
    Argent, three wool-cards sable, the back parts outward--LAYNNE.

Wool-comb.

Wool-comb, Flax-comb, or Jersey-comb, is also found in one coat of arms.

Sable, three wool-combs argent[in another branch, Sable, two flax-combs in pale argent]--BROMLEY.

Company of WOOL-PACKERS.

Wool-pack, or as it is sometimes blazoned, Wool-sack, is borne by one or two companies(e.g. that of the BONNET MAKERS, Edinburgh, see under Bonnet). It is also borne by individuals, possibly from their having made their fortune in the wool trade. (See Cushion.)

    Azure(some say gules), a wool-pack argent--The Company of WOOL-PACKERS, London.
    Vert, a wool-pack corded argent--STAPLE'S INN, London.
    Sable, a chevron between three packs or, cushions argent, tied of the first--Company of DYERS, London.
    Azure, a wool-pack argent--JOHNSON.
    Argent, a bend sable, on a chief of the second three wool-packs of the first--JOHNSON, Bp. of Gloucester, 1752; afterwards of Worcester, 1759-74.
    Gules, three woolsacks argent[in chief a mullet or]--ASHLEY, London.
    Gules, a chevron between three woolpacks argent--WOOLL, Rugby, co. Warwick.
    Per saltire argent and gules, a lion rampant gardant or, on a chief wavy azure a wool-pack of the first between two bezants--BACK.
    Argent, on a chevron between three woolsacks azure as many garbs or--WOLSAY, Norfolk.
    Gules, on a fesse or voided of the field between three wool-packs argent three crescents gold--COOK, Blackheath, Kent.
    Gules, a lion rampant or on a bend azure three wool-packs of the second within a bordure argent charged with eight cross of the field--DUNBAR, Scotland.

Word. See Letter.
Working-card. See Wool-card.
Wound. See Golpe.
Wounded. See Vulned; also under Lion.
Wrapped. See Enveloped.
Wreath, (fr. tortil, also bourrelet): the wreath, technically speaking, is the twisted band composed of two strips of gold or silver lace and silk by which the crest is joined to the helmet; though some wreaths of the fifteenth century were of four tinctures. It is sometimes, but improperly, called a roll, at others a torse. It was, perhaps, copied by the crusaders from the wreathed turbans of the Saracens. The first noticed is that of Sir John de Harsich, 1384.
Wreaths should always shew an equal number of divisions(now restricted to six), which are usually tinctured with the principal metal and colour of the arms alternately. Every Crest is understood to be placed upon a wreath, unless a chapeau or some coronet be expressly mentioned. But wreaths also sometimes occur as charges; e.g. we find a circular wreath. This is meant for the same object as the above, but viewed from a different point. Animals also are sometimes represented with wreaths on their heads.
See also Hatband, as borne by BURY; and under Harrow a circular wreath will be found figured in the arms.

JOCELYN.

Azure, a circular wreath argent and sable, with four hawk's bells joined thereto in quadrature or--JOCELYN, Essex.
Gules, three lions rampant or with wreaths on their heads azure--KELLAM.

Although the wreath proper is composed of one or more coloured stuffs, the Chaplets, q.v. of oak, laurel, and garlands of flowers, &c., are frequently blazoned as wreaths.

    Azure, on a fesse between three garbs or a wreath of oak vert between two estoiles gules--Sandbach, co. Lancaster.
    Ermine, a rose gules on a chief embattled or two banners in saltire, the staves enfiled by a wreath of laurel proper, a canton gules charged with a representation of a medal--NIGHTINGALL, co. Norfolk.
    Pean, three mountain-cats passant in pale argent, on a canton or a fesse gules surmounted by an anchor of the third encircled by a wreath of laurel vert--KEATS, Dorrant House, Dover; quartering Goodwin.

Crest of MOORE.

Wreathed, (fr. tortillé): i.e. encircled with a wreath, is not an unusual term. A good example is shewn on the head in the crest of MOORE.
Savage are frequently wreathed about the temples and loins with ivy, &c. The term is also sometimes applied to ordinaries instead of the term tortilly, q.v., and when so applied, means the same thing, and some examples will be found under that word.

    On a wreath argent and sable a moor's head in profile couped proper, wreathed or and of the second--Crest of MOORE or MORE.
    Argent, a bend wreathed azure and or--OARE, Sussex.
    Or, two bars wreathed bendy of eight azure and gules--JAKYS.
    D'argent, à trois têtes de Maure de sable, tortillées du champ--RIGAUD, Auvergne.

Wren: the Wren and the Robin Redbreast have been assumed as devices chiefly on account of the name. See also arms of ALDRIDGE, under Hawthorn.

    Argent, a chevron sable between three wrens close sable(other wise brown, and in another case back vert and breast gules)--WRENBURY.
    Argent, on a chevron azure three wrens of the first, a chief gules charged with as many horse's heads erased purpure--WREN[the chief or, charged with as many heads erased brown--WRENNE, Harl. MS. 1404].
    Argent, on a chevron between three wrens gules, as many mullets of the first--MANIGHAM.
    Per pale argent and azure, a fesse nebuly counterchanged between three robin redbreasts proper--ROBYNS, Alderman of London.
    Nebuly argent and azure, four birds(? robins) counterchanged--ROBYNS, co. Cornwall.

Wrist-straps. See Strap.
Wyn: a small flag.
Wyvern, or Wivern. See Cockatrice.

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