Terminology
In English, achievements of arms are usually described (blazoned) in a specialized jargon that uses derivatives of French terms. In Irish, however, achievements of arms are described in language which, while formal and different from plain language, is not quite so opaque as Anglo-Norman terminology is in English. Nevertheless Irish heraldic terminology is a kind of specialized jargon. Examples used since 1943 include the use of Irish gorm and uaine for blue and green, as compared to the French-derived azure and vert used in English blazon.
| Tinctures | Metals | Paints or Colours | Furs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escutcheons | |||||||||
| English | Or | Argent | Azure | Gules | Vert | Purpure | Sable | Ermine | Vair |
| Irish | Ór (órga) | Airgead (airgidí) | Gorm | Dearg | Uaine | Corcra | Dubh | Eirmín | Véir |
| Ordinaries Ríphíosaí |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Chief | Pale | Fess | Bend | Bend sinister | Chevron |
| Irish | Barr | Cuaille | Balc | Bandán | Clébhandán | Rachtán |
| Ordinaries Ríphíosaí |
||||||
| English | Cross | Saltire | Pall | Pall subverted | Pile | Bordure |
| Irish | Cros | Sailtír | Gabhal | Gabhal aisiompaithe | Ding | Imeallbhord |
| Division of the field | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Party per fess | Party per pale | Party per bend sinister | Quarterly | Quarterly charged with an inescutcheon |
| Irish | Gearrtha | Deighilte | Cléroinnte | Ceathair-roinnte | Ceathair-roinnte móide lársciath |
| Lines of division | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Wavy | Indented | Engrailed | Invected | Nebuly | Embattled | Dovetailed | Potenty |
| Irish | Camógach | Eangach | Clasach | Dronnógach | Néalach | Táibhleach | Déadach | Cathógach |
Read more about this topic: Irish Heraldry