Definition

Noun: A bend sinister is a diagonal band or stripe running from the top right to the bottom left of a shield in heraldry. Historically, it was used as a mark of distinction, often to indicate illegitimacy or bastardy in a family line.

Usage

The term is used specifically in the context of heraldry (the system of designing and describing coats of arms). It describes a specific heraldic ordinary (a simple geometric charge).

Examples: * The family's coat of arms was altered with a bend sinister to denote the baron's illegitimate son. * In heraldic symbolism, a bend sinister is less common than a standard bend (which runs from top left to bottom right).

Advanced Usage

• The bend sinister is also known in heraldic terminology as a or a when it is couped (cut short at the ends).
• While its traditional association with bastardy is well-known, in modern heraldic practice, it may be used for other purposes of differentiation without the same connotation.

Variants and Related Words

• Bend (noun): The standard diagonal band running from the top left (dexter chief) to the bottom right (sinister base) of a shield. This is the more common and honorable form.
• Baton Sinister (noun): A specific, narrower version of the bend sinister, often shortened at both ends.
• Bar Sinister (noun): A common misnomer for the bend sinister. "Bar" technically refers to a horizontal band, not a diagonal one.

Synonyms

• Mark of cadency (specifically for bastardy)
• Baton
• Barre (heraldic term)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Bar sinister": This is a frequently used but heraldically incorrect phrase in general English to metaphorically indicate illegitimate birth or questionable ancestry.
  • Example: The scandal revealed a bar sinister in the politician's prestigious lineage.

Noun

1. a mark of bastardy; lines from top right to bottom left