nombril
Noun: * The center point on a shield: In heraldry (the study of coats of arms), the nombril is the point located halfway between the fess point (the exact center of the shield) and the base of the shield. It is a specific point of reference for describing the placement of designs and charges on a shield.
The word nombril is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in the context of heraldry. It is not used in everyday conversation. When describing a coat of arms, one might specify the location of a symbol relative to the nombril.
- In heraldic description: "A mullet of six points is placed at the ." (This means a silver six-pointed star is positioned at the nombril point on the shield.)
- Defining heraldic terms: "Key points on a shield for blazonry include the chief, the base, the fess point, and the ."
- Heraldic Blazonry: The is one of several precise points (like the fess point, honor point, and dexter/ sinister chief) used in the formal language of blazonry to dictate the exact arrangement of elements on a coat of arms. Its use ensures accurate and standardized descriptions.
- Navel (noun): The common, everyday word for the belly button. is derived from the Old French word for navel, reflecting its position on the shield.
- Umbilicus (noun): The formal or anatomical term for the navel.
- Fess point (noun): The exact central point of the shield, located above the .
- None in common usage: There is no common English synonym for this precise heraldic term. In descriptive terms, one might say "the lower central point" or "the point below the center," but these are not technical synonyms.
- Point nombril: A redundant but sometimes used phrase emphasizing the term as a location.
- In nombril: A prepositional phrase used in blazonry to indicate placement at that point.
The word nombril is etymologically related to "navel," as it denotes a central, focal point on the shield, analogous to the navel's position on the body. Its usage is confined to the specialized field of heraldic art and science.
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the center point on a shield
