Vair - One of the furs of heraldry, composed of a number of pieces cut to resemble little shields, and arranged alternately argent and azure. When of different tinctures they must be specified; as, "vairy argent and vert." Other varieties of vair are: vair -en-point, where the point of one shield, or skin, is placed opposite to the base of the one below; counter-vair, where those of the same color are placed base to base and point to point. (Vair was originally drawn bell-shaped.)
Vaire - (vai'ry) The same as VAIRY.
Vairy - Checkered or charged with vair.
Vambraced - (vam'-braced) Armed with a vambrace.
The vambrace was the portion of the armor which covered the arm from the elbow to the wrist.
Variated - [See VARRIATED.]
Varment - (var'-met) The escallop when represented without the ears.
Varriated - (var'-ri-ated) A bearing cut in the form of vair; as, a bend varriated on the outsides.
Varries - Separate pieces of vair, the form resembling a small shield or secutcheon.
Varrys - [See VARRIES.]
Varvelled - When the leather thongs which tie on the bells to the legs of hawks are borne flotant, with rings at the ends, the bearing is then termed jessed, belled and varvelled.
Velloped - (vel'-opd) HAving gills of a different tincture from that of the bird itself. Applied to a cock when so borne. [WATTLED.]
Venus - When blazoning arms of princes by planets, as some foolish heralds have done, Venus represents the tincture vert.
Verdoy - (ver'-doi) Applied to a bordure charged with leaves, fruits, flowers, etc.; as, a bordure verdoy of trefoils.
Vergette - (ver'-jet) A small pale: a pallet; also, a shield divided with pallets.
Versant - (ver'-sant) Erected or elevated.
Vert - The tincture green. In engraving it is represented by diagonal lines from dexter chief to sinister base. In fanciful blazonry vert is also known as emerald and Venus.
Vertant - (ver'-tant) Formed like the letter S. [The same as FLECTED and REFLECTED.]
Vigilant - Applied to a cat when represented as on the lookout for prey.
Virole - (vi'-role) The hoop, ring or mouthpiece of a bugle or hunting horn.
Viroled - (vi'-rold) Furnished with a virole or viroles. Said of a bugle or horn when borne with rings of a different tincture from the bugle itself.
Viscount - (vi-kount) In Great Britain, the fourth rank of nobility, being above a baron and below an earl.
Visitation - An official visit made by a king-at-arms to take note of all armorial bearings within his jurisdiction. These visitations were made about every thirty years. A provincial king-at-arms, either personally or by deputy, would visit the principal town of his province or county and summon all the gentry to come forward and record their respective pedigrees and show title to their armorial bearings, all of which data would later be recorded at the College of Heralds. The first regular commission of visitation was issued by Henry VIII in 1528-9, but there had been visitations of one form or another as early as 1412. The last visitation took place early in the reign of James II.
Visor - That part of a helmet in old armor which protected the face, and which could be lifted up or down at pleasure.
Visored - With the visor down or closed.
Voided - Having the inner part cut away, leaving a narrow border, with the tincture of the field showing in the vacant space: a bearing in outline only.
Voider - One of the subordinaries, being the diminutive of the flanch. It resembles the flanch, but it is smaller and has a flatter curve.
In defensive armor the voider was a gusset piece, of plate or mail, which was used to cover an unprotected space at the elbow or knee joints.
Vol - A pair of wings; two wings conjoined and displayed in base.
Volant - Represented as flying, or having the wings spread as in flight. Applied to a bird; as, an eagle volant.
Vorant - (vor'-ant) Devouring. Applied to an animal or bird depicted devouring another.
Vulned - (vulnd) Wounded. Applied to an animal or bird depicted as wounded and bleeding; as, a leopard vulned.
Vulning - Wounding; in the act of wounding. This term is applied more particularly to the pelican, which, when shown in profile, is generally represented as wounding her breast. [PELICAN IN HER PIETY.]
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