SYMBOLISM OF HERALDIC COLORS, FURS, LINES & ORDINARIES or...
What does it mean if your coat of arms bears a red boar's head?
The following descriptions and meanings are gleaned from a variety of sources, some of which disagree on those meanings. The most commonly accepted meanings are given, but scholars vary in the their opinions concerning the reliability of any "commonly held" historic meanings for coats of arms and crests.
For examples of the different positions for heraldic animals, see our "Sample Lions In Heraldry" page.
The most common heraldic symbols and their meanings
as suggested by some historians.
(D THROUGH F)
For a list of symbols and their meanings, without illustrations, visit Meanings: All.
For a list of all symbols and their meanings with illustrations (page may take a while to load to your screen), visit Symbolism.
| Element | Illustration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Daffodil |  |
Regard; Chivalry, sunshine, respect |
| Dagger or dart |  |
Justice and military honour |
| Dahlia |  |
Dignity, elegance, togetherness forever |
| Daisy |  |
Gentleness and innocence |
| Dawle (black quatrefoil) | See "Quatrefoil" | Hope and joy |
| Decrescent |  |
One who has been honored by the sovereign; hope of greater glory (crescent with horns to the sinister) |
| Deer (See also Stag/Hart/Buck) |  |
One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony |
| Dice |  |
Constancy |
| Dill |  |
Irresistible |
| Dog (See also Talbot) |                |
Courage, vigilance, and loyalty |
| Dogwood |  |
Love and adversity |
| 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 |
(See Examples of Dragons) | 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 |
(See Examples of Eagles) | 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 | (See Examples of Eagles) | Conjoining of two forces |
| Edelweiss |  |
Daring and noble courage; purity, immortality |
| Elephant |     |
Great strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck, and ambition |
| Elm |  |
Dignity |
| 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, as shown above.) |
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) | (See Examples of Falcons) | 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 (See millrind) |
Center of the millstone, by which it is turned | |
| Fern |  |
Magic, fascination, confidence, shelter |
| 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 |
| Fig leaf |  |
Peace and plenty |
| Finger, pointing | Direction; correct route | |
| Fire/Firefighting |
  |
Zealousness |
| Fish |   |
A true, generous mind; virtuous for himself, not because of his heritage; also unity with Christ, spiritual nourishment |
| Flag or Pennant |   |
Refers to special action in which bearer was captured, or a reward for valiant service |
| Flanchi/flasque/flanches (Also flaunches) |
 |
Given by a king for virtue and learning |
| Fleece (lamb's) |   |
Ancient honour from the knightly order of the Fleece of Gold |
| Fleur-de-lis | (See Examples of Fleurs-de-lis) | Purity; light; floral badge of France; represents sixth son as mark of difference |
| Flint stone |  |
Readiness for zealous service |
| Flowers (See specific flowers) | Hope and joy | |
| Fountain |   |
Usually a roundle, crossed with wavy bars of blue and white; represents water, a spring |
| Fox |  |
One who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense |
| Fraises |  |
Strawberries; usually refers to the cinquefoil |
| Fret (saltire through a mascle) |
 |
(Also, fretty or latticework) Persuasion |
| Fruit |  |
Felicity and peace |
| Fusil (narrow lozenge) |
 |
Travel and labour |
| Fusil of Yarn (yarn with the spindle) |  |
Negotiation |
