INTRODUCTION

Definition of Heraldry: 
Webster's defines "Heraldry" as "A coat of arms or some other heraldic device or collection of heraldic symbols." Houghton-Mifflin gives a related definition of "A branch of knowledge dealing with the history and description in proper terms of armorial bearings and their accessories."

Focus of this Article
As the language used in describing a heraldic device is a key part of heraldry, the focus of this article will be an introductory level explanation of the methods and terminology of describing a heraldic device in proper heraldic language. The primary end goal is that readers will be able to properly describe simple coats of arms that they may encounter. The secondary goal is that readers will be able to create a proper coat of arms which would conform to mediaeval conventions.

Origins
Before beginning to describe the art of heraldry, it might put things into better perspective to begin our description several centuries before heraldry as we know it existed, back to the 11th and 12th centuries. During that time, when soldiers where on a battlefield, covered head to foot in armour each would have looked very similar to the next - whether friend or enemy. It could be very difficult to distinguish between soldiers in armour. This would have been a problem if you were watching for a particular person, or in some cases if you simply wanted to know who to attack and who to protect. But it would have been relatively easy to recognise shields covered in a pattern or symbols, even from a distance. So, people applied different designs to their shields in order to be easily recognised. So for this reason, people painted simple designs on their shields. If a particular person (or group) used the same motif over a long period of time, it would have become associated with that person. In this way, heraldry might be said to have been born. In reality, it is a bit more complex, as many of the aspects of heraldry existed before this time as well. For example, family insignias and seals, banners and as we have seen, the shield. But during this time, these various things combined to form the beginnings of true heraldry.

The design was not limited to the shield only. A simple tunic-like coat was worn over armour to protect the person from the sun. This was called a "surcoat" (from French for "over coat"). Later, the symbols from the shield were often shown on the coat. From this practice came the term "coat of arms".

At first, the designs on the shields were simple and their descriptions were also simple and unstandardised. As time progressed, more and more knights had a coat of arms and so the designs became more complex. In order to keep track of the different designs and who used them the role of the herald developed as well as the standardised art of heraldry and the specialised language necessary to describe and record large numbers of coats of arms.

knight armoured in chain maile	knight wearing surcoat over armour	knight with shield	knight with same motif on surcoat (shortened over time)

Diagram - Evolution of the coat of arms

The Shape of the Shield
There are many shapes to shields, both in heraldry and in real shields used in battle. It is based largely on the time period and preference of each knight. Early medieval shields were often a tall triangular shape. Over time they became shorter and later they became more rectangular while retaining the abruptly tapering point at the bottom. Shields used for jousting (late medieval) would have a small piece cut out of the top left corner (as viewed while facing the person holding the shield). This was to help hold the lance.

			A Lozenge

Diagram: Examples of shield shapes

The shield itself is the most important part of a coat of arms as it holds the main symbols and design of the coat of arms. In heraldry though, the shape of the shield (often called the "escutcheon") is not indicated. The same coat of arms can be shown on any shield shape. In fact, there have been many different shapes of shields commonly used. As long as it is generally shield like in appearance, then it was usually acceptable. The exception to this is when a woman displayed a coat of arms. In this case, it was displayed on a "lozenge" (a diamond shape).

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