Acacia Branch or Leaves

Eternal and affectionate remembrance

Acorn

Antiquity and strength.

Agricultural Tools

Labouring in the earth and depending upon providence; see also Scythe and Sickle

Alisaunder (Similar to laurel)

Peace and/or triumph.

Allerion (Mythical creature, similar to an eagle, but without beak or claws)

Strength of will and authority of mind.

Anchor

Hope; religious steadfastness

Angels

Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news

Annulet (finger ring)

Fidelity

Ant

Great labour, wisdom, and providence in one's affairs

Antelope (heraldic)

A mythical animal with the body of a stag, the tail of a unicorn, a tusk at the tip of the nose, tufts down the back of the neck, chest, and thighs (usually represented with two straight horns serrated on one side)

Antlers

Strength and fortitude

Anvil

Honour; emblem of the smith's trade

Apple

Liberality, felicity, and peace

Arm (or Hand) in Armour or Embowed

A person with qualities of leadership

Arm, Naked

An industrious person

Arrow or Dart

Readiness (for battle); if depicted with a cross, represents an affliction

Ass

Patience and humility

Axe (Also Halbert, Halberd, Hatchet)

Execution of military duty

Baguette (gem ring)

Fidelity

Banderole

See Banners

Banners (See banderole)

Refer to special action in which bearer was captured, or a reward for valiant service

Bar, Barry, or Barrulet

"One who sets the bar of conscience, religion, and honour against angry passions and evil temptations" acc. to Guillim

Barry Wavy

Troubles keep us in continuous exercise and reminders of providence (as waves in a storm at sea)

Bat

Awareness of the powers of darkness and chaos.

Baton

Token of authority

Battle Axe (See Axe)

Execution of military duty

Bay Leaves

Poet or victor's laurel

Beacon (Also Lantern or Lighthouse)

One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger

Bear

Strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred

Beaver

Industry and perseverance

Bee

Efficient industry

Bells

Power to disperse evil spirits; a hawk's bells denotes one who was not afraid of signalling his approach in peace or war

Bend/Bendy

Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection

Berries

Liberality, felicity, and peace

Bezant/Byzantine Coin
(Also Besant; Gold Roundle)

Worthy of trust of treasure.

Billet/Billettee

Bricks or letters (correspondence); one who obtained credence, knowledge, and faith in his words and deeds; one who is secret in one's affairs.

Birdbolt (See Arrow)

Small arrow with blunt head.

Bishop's Mitre

Authority

Blasted

Tree without leaves, withered

Boar

Bravery; fights to the death

Boar's Head

Hospitality

Bonacon (See Bull)

Bull with horse's tail and short mane.

Bomb (Mortar piece)

One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle

Bones (crossed thighbones)

Mortality

Book

If open, manifestation; if closed, counsel

Border

Difference between relatives bearing the same arms; also an augmentation of an honour

Bourdon

See pilgrim's or palmer's staff -- knob at upper end, point at bottom, hook near top

Bow

Readiness (for battle)

Bow and Arrow

War, power, ability to hit a target

Braced

Interlaced

Bracket

May be single or double; right angle-shaped support, as in a shelf support

Bridge

Governor or magistrate

Broom Plant

Humility

Buck

One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony

Buckle

Victorious fidelity in authority

Buglass (purple quatrefoil)

Hope and joy.

Bull/Buffalo

Valour, bravery, generosity

Bull's Head

Valour, bravery, generosity

Bull's Horns

Strength and fortitude

Butterfly

Psyche or Soul

Cadences (Marks of Cadences)

Used to differentiate the heirs in a family

Caduceus

Homeopathic medicine; medical profession; balance and the union of opposing forces

Caltrap

Candle (Lamp)

Light, life, and spirituality.

Camel

Docility, patience, and perseverance

Cannon and Cannon Ball

One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle

Candle (Lamp)

Light, life, and spirituality

Canton

As in a flag borne at the top corner of the shield; reward from the sovereign for performance of eminent service

Cap of Maintenance

Granted to British peers and Scottish feudal barons (see "Chapeau")

Carnation

Admiration

Carpenter's Square

Conforming one's actions to the laws of right and equity

Castle (Tower/Chateau)

Safety

Cat (Also Wildcat or Lynx)

Liberty, vigilance, forecast, and courage

Catherine Wheel

One prepared to undergo great trials for the Christian faith

Centaur

Eminence in the field of battle

Chains

Reward for acceptable and weighty service; with crowns and collars, this suggests the bearer bore the chain of obligation or obliged others because of services done

Chapeau (See also "cap of maintenance")

Granted to British peers and Scottish feudal barons

Chaplet (Floral)

Usually with green leaves and four roses: the crown of joy and admiration

Chequy

Constancy

Cherubs & Cherubim

Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news

Chess Rook

Strategic thinking

Chevron

Protection; Builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service

Chief

Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war

Chough (Cornish Crow)

Strategist in battle; watchful for friends

Church

Religion; faith; community

Cinquefoils

Hope and joy

Civic Wreath (of oak leaves and acorns)

One who saved a fellow citizen's life or shown patriotism in defense of one's native land

Clarion

Ready for war

Claw of a Bird

Note the preyer that has been preyed upon

Clouds

Mystery, obscured truth

Cock (male bird)

Courage and perseverance; hero; able man in politics

Cockatrice (small serpent)

Terror to all beholders

Column

Fortitude and constancy; with serpent coiled around it, wisdom with fortitude

Comet

Unknown

Compass

Direction

Compony or Gobony

Constancy

Cornish Chough (crow, raven; See "chough")

Strategist in battle; watchful for friends; divine providence

Cornucopia (horn of plenty)

The bounty of nature's gifts

Cottice/Cotice (bendlet)

Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection

Coupeaux

(Hills - usually three) Unknown; may be purely an artistic device

Crane (Stork)

Close parental bond; Vigilance if holding a rock

Crescent

One who has been honored by the sovereign; hope of greater glory (horns to the chief)

Cresset (See "Beacon")

One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger

Crosier/shepherd's crook

The shepherd's watchfulness; Christian faith; pastoral authority; also Episcopal jurisdiction and authority

Cross - see also this page on crosses

Faith; Christianity; Service in the Crusades

Cross (Celtic)

Unity of heaven and earth

Cross (Constantine's; Labarum)

Good omen; Christ; Christianity

Cross Crosslet

Signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross

Cross Crosslet Fitchee

A combination of cross and sword; unshakeable faith

Cross Flory
(Patoncee)

(cross flowered at each end) One who has conquered

Cross Formee (Pattee)

Military honour

Cross (Maltese)

Blessings; badge of Knights Hospitaller

Cross Moline

The mutual converse of human society (said to represent a millstone)

Cross Raguly

Difficulties encountered

Cross Roucy

Faith

Crossed thighbones

Mortality

Crow (See also "Chough")

Strategist in battle; watchful for friends; divine providence

Crown

Royal or seigniorial authority

Crown (Mural)

Defender of a fortress, token of civic honour; one who first mounted the breach in the walls of a fortress

Crown (Naval)

One who first boarded an enemy's ship; distinguished naval commander

Crown of thorns

Adversity

Cup (often covered)

Office of the king's butler

Cushions

Authority

Cygnet (young swan)

Where gorged with a crown around its neck, signifies dignity

Cypress

Death and eternal life thereafter

Dagger or dart

Justice and military honour

Dawle (black quatrefoil)

Hope and joy

Decrescent

One who has been honored by the sovereign; hope of greater glory (crescent with horns to the sinister)

Deer

One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony

Dice

Constancy

Dog

Courage, vigilance, and loyalty

Dolphin

Swiftness, diligence, salvation, charity, and love

Dove

Loving constancy and peace; the Holy Spirit; with an olive branch in its bill, it signifies a harbinger of good tidings

Dragon

Valiant defender of treasure; valour and protection

Drops (Guttees)

One who has endured torrents of liquids, as in battle, depending upon the color of the liquid.
Yellow: gold
Blue: tears
Green: oil
White: water
Black: pitch or tar
Red: blood

Drum

Ready for war

Duck Also Teal)

Person of many resources

Eagle

Person of noble nature, strength, bravery, and alertness; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious; "True magnanimity and strength of mind" acc. to Guillim.
If wings "displayed," it signifies protection

Eagle with two heads

Conjoining of two forces

Elephant

Great strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck, and ambition

Enfield

Mythical beast said to have protected fallen chieftains' bodies for proper burial

Ermine Spot

Mark of dignity

Escallop (scallop shell)

Traveller to far places or victorious naval commander

Escarbuncle

Supremacy; brilliant gem

Escutcheon or small shield, alone, with no charges

Defense

Escutcheon of Pretence

(Small shield in center of primary shield.) Claim of a prince to sovereignty; or marriage to an heiress of the family

Estoile (star with six wavy points)

Celestial goodness; noble person

Eye

Providence in government

Falcon (Hawk)

One who does not rest until objective achieved

Fasces

A bundle or rods tied together around an axe, with the blade projecting out; Symbol of a magistrate's authority and the judiciary. (It appears on the reverse side of the U.S. Liberty-head dime.)

Feathers

(usually ostrich feathers) Sign of obedience and serenity

Fer de moline (millrind)

Center of the millstone, by which it is turned

Fess/Fesse

Military belt or girdle of honour; represents readiness to serve the public

Fetterlock

Victory; one who has taken prisoners or rescued prisoners of war

Fife

Ready for war

Finger, pointing

Direction; correct route

Fire

Zealousness