Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry - D

Dancette - (daN'-sa'-tay) Divided into large zigzags; resembling the zigzag molding peculiar to Norman architecture.

Dancetté differs from indented in that the former has deeper and wider notches.

Dancy - dan'sy) The same as DANCETTE.

Dauphin - (dau'-fin) [French.] The title of the eldest son of the King of France or the heir apparent to the throne under the old monarchy.

The title is said to have come from the following circumstance: Humbert II Lord of Vinne, who bore for a crest a dolphin (O. Fr. daulphin ), in the ninth century, bequeathed his lordship as an appanage to the French throne on condition that the eldest son always bore the title Dauphin of Viennois.

Debased - Turned over; inverted.

DEBASED HERALDRY - Unheraldic. There are a number of examples that could be placed under this head. For instance, one grant of arms shows negroes working on a plantation; another has Chinamen carrying cinnamon; a Bishop of Elybore, among other things, three kings, on bezants, crowned, robed sable, doubled ermine, a covered cup in the right hand and a sword in the left, both or; the grant to Lord Nelson, as well as some of his officers, were altogether unheraldic. 

Debruised - (de-bruzd") Applied to a bend when placed over an animal in such a manner as to seem to restrain its freedom.

Dechausse - (day-sho'-say) [French.] The same as DISMEMBERED.

Decked - Said of a bird when its feathers are trimmed or edged with a small line of another color.

Declinant - (dek'-lin-ant) Used in describing a serpent whose tail is represented straight downward. (Also called Declivant.)

Declivant - (dek'-liv-ant) The same as DECLINANT. 

Decouple - (de-koup'-lay) [French.] Parted; severed. (The same as UNCOUPLED.)

Decrement - (dec'-re-ment) The wane of the moon from full to last quarter. [See DECRESCENT.]

Decrescent - (de-kres'-sent) Said of the moon when in her decrement. When the crescent is borne with its points toward the sinister side of the shield it is termed decrescent.

Defamed - An epithet applied to an animal which has lost its tail.

Degraded - This word describes a cross that has steps at each end, diminishing as they ascend toward the center.

CROSS DEGRADED AND CONJOINED - A plain cross having degraded steps joined to the sides of the shield.

Delf - One of the abatements; a mark of disgrace, indicating that a challenge has been revoked or one's word broken. The delf is represented by a square-cut sod of earth, turf, etc. [See also ABATEMENT.]

Delve - (delv) The same as BILLET.

Demembre - (da-mem'-bray) [French.] The same as DISMEMBERED.

Demi - Said of any charge borne half, as a demi-lion. (Also written deny.)

Demi-garter - [See PERCLOSE.]

Dent - Indented. (Universal Dict.)

Dentelle - (den-tel') [French.] The same as INDENTED.

Depressed - The same as DEBRUISED.

Descending - Said of an animal or bird the head of which is represented turned toward the base of the shield.

Descent - Coming down from above. Example: A lion in descent == with its head toward the base point and its heels toward one of the corners of the chief, as if in the act of leaping down from some high place.

Detriment - (det'-ri-ment) Used sometimes to describe the moon on the wane or in eclipse.

Developed - Unfurled, as colors flying.

Device - An emblem, intended to represent a family, person, action or quality, with a suitable motto. It generally consists in a metaphorical similitude between the thing representing and the person or thing represented.

Devouring - The same as VORANT.

Dexter - The right; situated on the right. The dexter side of the shield is that opposite the left hand of the spectator.

DEXTER CHIEF POINT - A point in the upper right-hand corner of the shield.

Diaper - (di'-a-per) A ground pattern, usually in squares or lozenges.

Diapered - (di'a-perd) A shield diapered is one covered with a ground pattern, generally of squares or lozenges, with a flower scroll work or other ornament in each compartment. The idea is supposed to have been copied from the linen cloths of Ypress.

While there are a number of early examples of diapered shields, it cannot be called strictly heraldic.

Diadem - An arch rising from the rim of a crown and uniting with other arches to form a center, which serves to support the globe and cross or fleur-de-lis as a crest.

Difference - Some figure or mark added to a coat of arms to distinguish one family from another. Modern marks of difference, or Marks of Cadence are:
 

1. Lable	6. Fleur-de-lis
2. Crescent	7. Rose
3. Mullet	8. Cross Moline
4. Martlet	9. Octofoil
5. Annulet

Differenced - Marked or distinguished by a difference.

Dimidiate - (di-mid'-i-ate) To represent the half of any charge.

Dimidiation - [See DIMIDIATE.]

Diminution - (di-mi-nu'-shon) The defacing of some particular point in an escutcheon.

Diminutive - (di-min'-u-tive) Something smaller than the regular size; on a smaller scale. For instance, the diminutive of the Bend is the Bendlet, being half its width.

Dingwall - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court. Scotland.

Disarmed - Applied to a bird or beast deprived of claws, teeth or beak.

Disclosed - A term used to describe a bird when its wings are spread open on each side, but the points downward.

DISCLOSED ELEVATED - The same as disclosed, except that the points are elevated.

Dismembered - Applied to birds having neither feet nor legs; also, to animals whose members are separated.

Displayed - Said of any bird of prey borne erect, with the wings expanded. Applied especially to the eagle.

Distillatory - (dis-til'-la-tory) A charge borne by the Distillers' Company, and usually blazoned: "A distillatory double armed, on a fire, with two worms and bolt receivers." (Ogilvie.)

The distillatory is an apparatus used for distillation.

Disveloped - (dis-vel'-opd) Displayed, as a standard or colors when open and flying. (Universal Dict.) 

Dog - The dog figures in heraldry in various forms and under different names. The alaund, or hunting dog, seems to have been the most popular. Lord Dacre used it as a supporter. Henry VIII had his arms and badge placed on the collars of his hunting dogs. In the brass of Sir Brian Stapleton at Ingham the knight rests his foot on a dog. The earls of Shrewsbury use the talbot, or mastiff, to support their shield. Burton of Falde bore three talbot's heads erased or, while Mauleverer of Allerton Mauleverer had three greyhounds on his shield.

The dog is generally blazoned as a talbot.

Dolphin - (dol'-fin) The dolphin is heraldically a fish, irregardless of what it may be zoologically or astronomically. When used as a charge it may be extended and natant or hauriant, etc. Fishacre of Fishacre bore "Gules, a dolphin natant argent." The dolphin was the emblem of the Dauphins of France. [See also DAUPHIN.]

Dominion - [See Arms of Dominion, under ARMS.]

Dormant - In a sleeping posture.

Dorsed - The same as AVERSANT.

Doubling - The lining of robes of state; also the mantlings borne around the achievement of arms.

Dragon - The dragon is of ancient date and played a prominent part in early romance, though little used in English heraldry. He is usually depicted with four legs and wings, a long barbed tail, usually knotted, and a body protected by scales. When the dragon is drawn without wings he is called a lindworm; without feet, a serpent; when he hangs by the head, it represents a conquered dragon.

Dragonnee - (dra-gon'-nay) A fabulous beast, the upper part resembling a lion, and the lower part the wings and tail of a dragon.

Drops - The same as GUTTEES.

Dublin - One of the heralds of the Office of Arms, Ireland.

Ducal coronet - The head attire of a duke, consisting of a circle of chased gold, with eight strawberry leaves on its upper edge, a cap of crimson velvet, terminating at the top with a gold tassel. When a coronet is used in a crest it is generally the ducal.

Duke - The highest rank in the peerage of Great Britain.

Dwale - (dwal) The tincture sable, or black, when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.. (Webster.)