Pellet

Pellet

Pellet, or gunstone, (fr. ogresse, but more frequently torteau de sable) is a roundlet sable. The term pellet, spelt in various ways, is found in ancient rolls, and is used by Chaucer, e.g. 'as suyfte as a pellet out of a gonne.' Hence, perhaps, the later name gunstone. The word ogress, borrowed from the French, is also found used by English heralds. In the ancient rolls the tincture of the pellet is not confined to sable, being used in the sense of roundlet, q.v.

Argent, on a bend gules between three ogresses as many swans proper--CLARKE, co. Northampton.

Monsire Olyver de DYNHAM, gules a trois pelots d'or; labell d'azure--Roll, temp. ED. III.

Monsire de HUNTINGFELD, port d'or, sur fes gules trois pelotts d'argent--Ibid.

Monsire William de WISTOWE, d'argent a une chevron et trois pellets de gules en le chief--Ibid.

Argent, three bars sable; in chief as many pellets--HUMBERSTON.

Argent, six gunstones sable--LACYE.

Argent, a fesse sable; in chief three ogresses--LANGLEY, co. Gloucester.

Argent, a battle-axe gules between three ogresses--MORSE.

D'argent, à trois tourteaux de sable--BURET, Normandie.

Pelletty is used sometimes for semé of pellets.

Gules, a hind courant argent, between three pheons or, within a bordure of the last pelletty--HUNT.

Argent, two bars gules; over all a lion rampant double queued or pelletty--BRANDON, Chamberlain of London.