Dictionary of Vexillology: Appendix V

The common attitudes and presentation of heraldic beasts are listed below:

Addorsed

When two animals are turned back to back - endorsed.

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

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Affronty

When the head of a beast or a man is shown facing the observer – but see ‘affronty 2)’ in the main text.

Bull’s Head Affronty, Sable, Vilanova, Spain (fotw)

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Armed

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

Lion Rampant Sable, Armed and Langued Gules, Flanders Belgium (fotw)

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Caboshed

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

A Stag Caboshed, Or, Garesniica, Croatia

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Contourné

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

Falcon Proper Contourné (Parker)

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Couchant

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

Lion Couchant Or, Uherský Brod, Czech Republic

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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').

A dexter hand couped at the wrist, Northern Ireland (fotw)

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Coward

When an animal is shown with its tail between the hind legs.

A Griffon Coward, Azure, Armed and Langued gules, Boksburg 1991 – 94, South Africa (fotw)

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Displayed

When an eagle is shown with its wings elevated and sometimes inverted (see also ‘rising’ in ‘appendix V’, plus ‘vol’ and ‘volant’ in the main text).

An Eagle Displayed, Sable, Veveyse, Switzerland (fotw)

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Erased

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

Three heads Erased Sable, Lennik, Belgium (fotw)

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Erect

When an animal is shown upright or on its hind feet. In certain cases this may be used in place of “rampant”, or may be employed in relation to the heads of animals and fish – but see ‘erect 2)’ in the main text and ‘rampant’ below.

Serpent erect or, Arms of Gorjani, Croatia (fotw)

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Guardant

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

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

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Haurient

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

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

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Langued

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

Lion Passant Sable, Armed and Langued Gules, Aalter, Belgium (fotw)

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Naiant (or natant)

When a fish (or occasionally a water-fowl) is shown swimming per fess, usually towards the dexter - natant (see also ‘haurient’ and ‘urinant’).

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

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Passant

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

Three Bears Passant, Or, Beernem, Belgium (fotw)

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Proper/Natural

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

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

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Rampant

When an animal is depicted rearing on its hind legs with forepaws and claws extended – but see also ‘erect’ above.
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Lion Rampant Gules, Armed and Langued Azure, Royal Banner of Scotland (Graham Bartram)

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Regardant

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

Agnus Dei Proper Regardant (Parker)

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Respectant

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

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, however, please note also that the terms affrontant and affronty have different meanings – see ‘affronty’ in ‘appendix V’ and ‘affronty 2)’ in the main text.

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Rising

When a bird is represented as in the act of taking flight (see also ‘displayed’ in ‘appendix V’, plus ‘vol’ and ‘volant’ in the main text).

An Eagle Rising, Or, Zlocieniec, Poland (Jarig Bakker)

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Salient

When an animal is shown leaping (possibly upon its prey), or rearing up with both hind feet on the ground – but see ‘rampant’.

Ibex Salient, Argent, on a Coupeau, Vert, Remigen, Switzerland (fotw); Three Stags salient Argent, Porsanger, Finland (fotw)

Statant

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

Roebuck Statant Or, Morkov, Czech Republic

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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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Urinant

When the head of a fish points downward (see also ‘haurient’ and ‘naiant’).

Two Perches Urinant, Argent, Rorchach, Switzerland (fotw)