bend sinister
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- a mark of bastardy; lines from top right to bottom left