A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN HERALDRY
by JAMES PARKER FIRST PUBLISHED in 1894

Or, (fr. from Latin aurum): the chief of the tinctures, i.e. gold. It is called Sol by those who blazon by the sun and planets, Topaz(or Carbuncle) by those who have fancifully taken the names of precious stones. Engravers represent it by an indefinite number of small points. The term Gold is not unfrequently used by heralds to avoid repetition, and the French word Jaune, i.e. yellow, is met with in old heraldic poetry

Azure, bright blue, i.e. the colour of an eastern sky, probably derives the name from the Arabic lazura(conf. lapis lazuli, Gr. λαξωριον, Span. azul, Italian azurro, Fr. azur), the name being introduced from the East at the time of the Crusades. It is sometimes called Inde from the sapphire, which is found in the East: (see example under cadency.) Heralds who blazon by planets called it Jupiter, perhaps from his supposed rule over the skies; and when the names of jewels are employed it is called Sapphire. Engravers represent it by an indefinite number of horizontal line.

Gyronny(i.e. per cross and saltire, &c.).

Fretty, (fr. fretté): is now understood to mean a continuous fret, and forms a pattern for diapering the field, or some ordinary. Very many instances are found, and sometimes the points of junction are ornamented, at other the fret itself is charged with roundles, &c. The fr. treillissé is only to be distinguished from the fretté from the mesh being smaller.

Azure, fretty argent--CAVE, Kent.
Azure, fretty of eight pieces raguly or--BROADHURST.

Fret: a charge consisting of two narrow bendlets placed in saltire, and interlaced with a mascle. It was been supposed to represent the meshes of a fishing-net. Being borne by the family of HARRINGTON it is found called a Harrington's knot; and riddle-makers see a connection between the Herring-town and the net. Whatever may be the origin, the term fret, or rather fretté, occurs frequently in the ancient rolls, but in many cases probably only a single fret is intended. When two or more frets are borne in the same arms they must be couped, unless each occupies an entire quarter.

Raguly, (fr. noueux): is a term properly applied to trunks of trees and the like, but occasionally to an ordinary, e.g. to a Cross(see §2), having pieces like couped boughs projecting at the sides in a slanting direction, ragguled being an old word signifying chopped off.