From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Example of a gyron
Gyronny of eight or and sable

A gyron is a triangular heraldic ordinary having an angle at the fess point and the opposite side at the edge of the escutcheon. A shield divided into gyrons is called gyronny, the default is typically of eight if no number of gyrons is specified. The word gyron is derived from Old French giron, meaning ' gusset'. [1] When a single gyron extends across so the tip touches the edge of the coat of arms, forming a square, it is called an esquire. [2] [3]

The gyron rarely appears singly, but as a variation of the field, gyronny coats appear frequently. These most often appear as eight roughly equal parts, but occasionally a coat gyronny of six, ten, twelve or more parts may be specified. [4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gyron". Concise Oxford English Dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford: University Press. 2008. ISBN  9780199548415.
  2. ^ Thomas Robson, The British herald, or Cabinet of armorial bearings of the nobility & gentry of Great Britain & Ireland, 1830: ‘Esquire, equire, or squire, by Edmondson considered the same as the gyron, which must be wrong, because the gyron only extends to the centre fesse point; whereas the esquire, though of the same shape, runs across the whole field.’
  3. ^ Friar, Stephen, ed. (1987). A New Dictionary of Heraldry. London: Alphabooks/A&C Black. p. 139. ISBN  0 906670 44 6.
  4. ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1909). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. New York: Dodge Publishing Co. p.  137.