Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry - G

Gambe - [See GAMB.]

Garb - A sheaf of wheat. This was a popular bearing, especially in Cheshire. Sometimes it is banded of a different color.

When the garb is used to designate any other grain this must be specified.

Gardant - Applied to a beast represented full-faced, or looking at the spectator, whether the animal be rampant, passant or otherwise. A beast of the chase - such as the hart, stag or hind - when depicted in this attitude is described as at gaze.

Garnished - (gar'-nished) Applied to any charge provided with an ornament.

Garter - The same as BENDLET.

GARTER KING-AT-ARMS - The principal king-at-arms in England, by whom arms are granted and conferred under the authority of the Earl Marshall. The office was created by Henry V, in 1420.

ORDER OF THE GARTER - This is the most illustrious order of British knighthood. It was instituted at Windsor by Edward III in 1348. It consists of the sovereign and 25 companions, of whom the Prince of Wales is always one. In more recent times foreign princes have been admitted. The knights place the initials "K. G." after their names, which takes precedence of all other titles except those of royalty.

Gauntlet - Originally a glove of leather, covered with plate metal to correspond with the other parts of the armor. It was at first worn without separate fingers.

Gaze - [See AT GAZE.]

Gemel - (gem'-el) Parallel bars. [BAR.]

Gemelled - Supplied with bars gemel; placed between barrulets. [BARRULET.] [BARS GEMEL.]

Genuant - (jen'-u-ant) Kneeling.

Gerb - [See GARB.]

Gerbe - The French word sometimes used for GARB. 

Gerfalcon - [See FALCON.]

Gobonated - (go'-bo-nat-ed) Applied to a bordure, bend, etc., divided into equal parts forming squares, gobbets. (Called also goboné or gobony.) [Essentially the same as COMPONY.]

Gobone - [See GOBONATED.]

Gobony - [See GOBONATED.]

Gold - This metal in heraldry is known as OR. 

Golden Balls - The three golden balls now universally seen as the pawnbrokers' sign were taken from the arms of Lombardy. Lombards having been the first bankers and money lenders in London.

Golden Fleece - Order of the Golden Fleece. - An order of knighthood instituted by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. It now belongs to both Spain and Austria.

Gonfalon - (gon'-fa-lon) A banner fixed in a frame made to turn like a ship's vane; with streamers or tails, generally three.

Gore - A charge consisting of two curved lines - one from sinister chief point, the other from base middle point, meeting in an acute angle at the fess point.

Gorged - An animal or bird is said to be gorged when represented with a crown or something similar around its neck. It is then blazoned as "gorged with a crown," etc.

Goshawk - A bird often used in falconry, and sometimes seen as a charge. Ridley of Blaydon bore three goshawks argent.

Gradient - (gra'-di-ent) Applied to a tortoise represented as walking.

Grady - Steps or degrees, or one battlement upon another. (Also called battled-embattled and embattled grady.)

Gray - A badger.

Green - This color in heraldry is known as VERT. 

Grieee - A step; one of the steps upon which crosses are sometimes placed.

Griffon - A fabulous beast, generally drawn with the body, legs and tail of a lion, the head of a cock or an eagle, a pair of wings and long, sharp claws. When represented on his hind legs he is segreant.

GRIFFON - MALE - A griffon without wings and having large ears. 

Grittie - Said of a field when composed equally of metal and color.

Gryphon - [See GRIFFON.]

Guardant - [See GARDANT.]

Guelphic Order - (guel'-fick) An order of knoghthood instituted for Hanover on August 12, 1815, by George IV of England, while still Prince Regent.

Gule - To color red; to give the color of gules to.

Gules - (guelz) Red. This color on engraved escutcheons is represented by vertical lines.

Gusset - An abatement; a mark of disgrace. It somewhat resembles a gusset, and is formed by a line drawn from either dexter or sinister chief point one-third across the shield, thence descending perpendicularly to the base. When on the dexter side of the escutcheon it is an abatement for adultry; when on the sinister, for drunkenness. In this connection it is scarcely necessary to say that the gusset has been rarely used. (Sometimes called a gore.)

Gutte - A drop. It is pear shaped, with a tail like a tear on funeral drapery, or like a Rupert's drop. [See also GUTTEE.]

Guttee - (gut'-tée) A shield sprinkled with guttes, or drops. Like the roundel, their name changes with the color, as follows: Or, guttée d'or; gules, guttée de sang; argent, guttée de l'eau; sable, guttée de poix; azure, guttée de larmes; vert, guttée d'huile.

Gutty - [See GUTTEE.]

Guze - A roundel tinctured sanguine, representing an eyeball. [See also ROUNDEL.]

Gyron - (gi'-ron) A subordinary, consisting of two straight lines, drawn from any given part of the field, meeting in an acute angle in the fess point. It is a Spanish ordinary, and is supposed to come from the word giron, a gusse. The gyron, which is an old bearing, is seldom used singly.

Gyronny - (gi'-ron-ny) A field divided into gyrons, generally eight sections. When more than eight, the number must be specified. For examplr: Bassing - bourne - "Gyronny of 12, or and azure."