nerally denotes the painted shields used at funerals. The
field, if the husband is dead and wife survives, is black on the
dexter side only; if the wife is deceased, it is black on the sinister
side; if both, it is black all over. The example shows that this is
the escutcheon of a deceased baron, whose lady survives.

[Illustration]

ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE. A small escutcheon, on which a man bears the
coat of arms of his wife, being an heiress. See p. 40. [CHAP. VI.]

[Illustration: Ex. Argent, a chevron or, between three crosslets
sable, on the fess point surtout the chevron an escutcheon of pretence
gules, three quatrefoils argent.]

ESQUIRE. The degree below a knight and above a gentleman. Those to
whom this title is due by right, are all the younger sons of noblemen
and their heirs male for ever, the four esquires of the king's body,
the eldest sons of baronets, of all knights and of their heirs male:
those who bear superior offices, as magistrates, high sheriffs,
mayors, and aldermen, have it during their continuance in office and
no longer. For the helmet of an esquire, see page 84.

[Illustration: Etoile.]

ETOILE. The French word for a star. It differs from the mullet in the
number of points, and four of the points being rayant.

FESS. An honourable ordinary occupying the third part of the shield
between the centre and the base.

[Illustration: Fess]

Ex. Argent, a fess gules.

[Illustration: Fess Point.]

FESS POINT. The exact centre of the escutcheon, as seen in the annexed
example. See the escutcheon lettered at p. 6., where this point is
marked with the letter E. [CHAP. II.]

FIELD. The whole surface of the shield or escutcheon: it is the ground
upon which the colours, tinctures, furs, ordinaries, and charges, are
represented.

FIGURED. Those bearings which are depicted with a human face, are said
to be figured.

[Illustration: Figured]

Ex. Gules, three bezants figured.

FILLET. The only diminutive belonging to the chief; its width is
one-fourth of the chief, and is always placed at the base of it. See
CHIEF, p. 18. [CHAP. IV.]

FIMBRIATED. An ordinary having a border of a different tincture is
said to be fimbriated.

[Illustration: Fimbriated]

Ex. Azure, a bend gules, fimbriated argent.

FITCHY. Is from the French word _fiche_, fixed. It is generally
applied to crosses which have their lower branch pointed, so that it
could be fixed in the ground. See CROSS FITCHY.

FLANCHES.