es, they are described as "clipped".

Minor geometric charges (subordinaries) are those which (except for the
border) do not reach the edge of the shield; if used with an ordinary,
the subordinary is placed on top. The names of these generally remain
the same as in traditional heraldry, as most have no reasonable English
equivalent. These are the inescutcheon, orle, lozenge, fusil, and
border (formerly bordure). Two new ones are the hex and pentagon,
while the circle (once called a roundel, bezant, plate, torteau, hurt,
etc., depending on its color) is simply called a circle with the
correct color named.

The same principle applies to other charges, such as animals and
people. "Affronte" becomes "looking outward", "regardant" becomes
"looking backward", and "rampant", which is easily understandable,
remains the same. Charges are not restricted to the medieval ones,
though many of those are used. Modern charges include things like
planets, computers, stylized atoms, and spacecraft--although some of
those, particularly military models, can be confused with simple
circles.

Ruling nobles' arms, and those of most lower jurisdictions, do not
indicate rank or anything other than perhaps the bearer's reason for
being awarded them; Rangers', Life Nobles', and knights' arms, however,
clearly indicate their rank. Rangers' arms, since 2243, have been ones
used by previous Rangers; they are distinguished by a green canton with
a platinum Ranger's star. Life Nobles' arms are bordered in the metal
or color of the noble's level (platinum for dukes, gold for earls,
orange for counts, red for barons) and have a black canton with the
Imperial Arms. Knights' arms are distinguished by a platinum and green
border, one tincture inside the other. If the field is a color, the
platinum is inside; if a metal, the green.

Use of Imperial arms is restricted, for ruling nobles, to the noble,
@'s spouse, and @'s heir. This eliminates the need for an elaborate
system of cadency, though to prevent confusion, the spouse's and heir's
arms are differenced. The differences are a label with two points for
the spouse, a label with three points for the heir. Should the ruler
retire, both @ and @'s spouse add a true-lover's knot (as the spouse
also does if @ survives the ruler) to indicate dower status.

For Life Nobles and knights, only the person originally granted the
arms bears them undifferenced. A's spouse adds a label with three
poi