Bend (heraldry)

In heraldry, a bend is a band or strap running from the upper dexter (the bearer's right side and the viewer's left) corner of the shield to the lower sinister (the bearer's left side, and the viewer's right). Authorities differ as to how much of the field it should cover, ranging from one-fifth (if shown between other charges) up to one-third (if charged alone).

Variations

A bend can be modified by most of the lines of partition, such as the bend engrailed in the ancient arms of Fortescue and the bend wavy in the ancient coat of Wallop, Earls of Portsmouth.

Diminutives

The diminutives of the bend, being narrower versions, are as follows, in descending order of width:

Bendlet: One-half as wide as a bend, as in the ancient arms of Churchill family, and the arms of Byron. A bendlet couped is also known as a baton, as in the coat of Elliot of Stobs

Cotise: One-fourth the width of a bend; it usually appears in pairs, one on either side (French: coté) of a bend, in which case the bend is said to be cotised as in the ancient arms of Fortescue and Bohun and in the more modern arms of Hyndburn Borough Council, England. In ancient arms it can be found on only one side of a bend blazoned as a bend singly cotised.

Riband or ribbon: Also one-fourth the width of a bend. It is also called a cost as in the arms of Abernethie of Auchincloch (Or, a lion rampant gules surmounted of a cost sable, all within a bordure engrailed azure — first and fourth quarters)

Scarp (or scarf): a bend sinister of one-half width.

Bend sinister

The usual bend is occasionally called a bend dexter when it needs to contrast with the bend sinister (Latin; means left), which runs in the other direction, like a sash worn diagonally from the left shoulder. The bend sinister and its diminutives such as the baton sinister are rare as an independent motif; they occur more often as marks of distinction.