bend sinister

American  

noun

Heraldry.

1. a diagonal band extending from the sinister chief of an escutcheon to the dexter base: a supposed mark of bastardy.

---

bend sinister British  

noun

1. heraldry a diagonal line bisecting a shield from the top right to the bottom left, typically indicating a bastard line

---

Etymology

Origin of bend sinister

First recorded in 1615–25

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bend sinister

That in heraldry, a bend sinister indicates bastardy.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2019

An ordinary with its ends cut off, borne sinister as a mark of bastardy, and containing one fourth in breadth of the bend sinister; Ð called also bastard bar.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster

The bend sinister is the same breadth as the bend dexter, and is drawn from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield.

From The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth Edition Being a Concise Description of the Several Terms Used, and Containing a Dictionary of Every Designation in the Science by Anonymous

That a market should be held upon the Sabbath in this city, is a "bend sinister" upon its escutcheon.

From The South-West By a Yankee. In Two Volumes. Volume 2 by Jonathon Holt Ingraham

By what legitimatizing process the bend sinister was erased, and the marquisate preserved, we have hitherto been unable to ascertain.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 379, May, 1847 by Various

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---