Arm

Arm

Arm, (fr. bras, but usually dextrochere or senestrochere, q.v.): the human arm is often found as part of a crest, although it is not very frequent as a charge. It should be carefully described as being dexter or sinister; erect, embowed, or counter-embowed; vested, vambraced, armed, or naked, as the case may be: sometimes it is cuffed. If couped, care should be taken to describe where. When couped at the elbow, it is called a cubit-arm. When armed the metal-plates for the elbow are termed brassarts.

Gules, three dexter arms conjoined at the shoulders, and fixed in triangle[like the legs in the ensign of the Isle of Man], vested or, with fists clenched, proper--TREMAYNE, Cornwall.

Sable, three dexter arms conjoined at the shoulder, and fixed in triangle, vested or, cuffed argent, the fists clenched, proper--ARMSTRONG.

Gules, three dexter arms braced[i.e. vambraced] argent, hands proper--ARMSTRONG, Ballycumber.

Gules, a naked arm embowed, issuing from the sinister holding a battle-axe erect proper--HINGENSON, Bucks.

Gules, an arm in armour proper, holding a Danish battle-axe argent--HINGSTON, Holbeton, Devon.

Gules, issuing from the sinister side a cubit dexter arm unvested, fesswise grasping a sword proper--CORNOCK, co. Wexford.

The arm is also borne by the families of ARMORBERY--DE LA FAY--PUREFOY--BORLASE--ARMORER--RENNCEVALE--HANCOCK--CHAMBERLAYNE, and many others.

An Arm, when used as a Crest, more frequently holds a dagger, arrow, &c.; also two arms sometimes occur.