argent.

BATON. BATUNE. BASTON. It is generally used as an abatement in coats
of arms to denote illegitimacy.

[Illustration: Baton]

Ex. Or, a cross gules, over all a baton argent.

BATTERING RAM. An instrument used for battering down walls before
gunpowder was known in Europe: it is frequently borne as a charge in a
coat of arms.

[Illustration: Battering ram]

Ex. Argent, a battering ram proper.

BATTLE AXE. An ancient military weapon, frequently borne on arms as a
mark of prowess.

[Illustration: Battle axe]

Ex. Argent, three battle axes gules two over one.

BATTLEMENTS. Divisions or apertures on the top of castle walls or
towers.

[Illustration: Battlements]

Ex. Gules, three towers embattled argent.

BEAKED. The beak of a bird being of a different tint from the body is
said to be beaked.

[Illustration: Beaked]

Ex. An eagle's head erased, beaked, or.

BEAVER. That part of the helmet that defends the sight.

[Illustration: Beaver]

BELLED. Having bells.

[Illustration: Belled]

Ex. Argent, a barrulet gules, belled with three bells proper.

BEND. One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines
drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally
occupies a fifth part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one
third.

[Illustration: Bend]

Ex. Azure, a bend argent.

BEND SINISTER. Is the reverse of the bend; it is seldom found in coats
of arms, as it is reckoned an abatement.

[Illustration: Bend sinister]

Ex. Argent, a bend sinister gules.

IN BEND. Figures placed in a slanting direction from the dexter chief
to the sinister base are said to be in bend.

[Illustration: In bend]

Ex. Or, three torteaux in bend.

BENDLET. A diminutive of the bend, of the same shape, but only half
the width of the bend.

BENDY. This word serves to denote a field divided diagonally into
several bends, varying in metal and colour.

[Illustration: Bendy]

Ex. Bendy of six pieces, azure and argent.

BESANT, or BEZANT. Gold coin of Byzantium; when they appear in a coat
of arms their colour is not described: a besant is always or.

[Illustration: Besant]

BILLETS. This charge is, by some authors, supposed to represent tiles
or bricks; by others that it represents a letter or billet. The name
and form of the charge most accords with the latter opinion.

[Illustration: Billets]

Ex. Argent, three billets azure, two over one.

BISHOPS. Church dignitaries: th