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.
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