saltire

American  

[sal-teer, -tahy^uhr, sawl-] / ˈsæl tɪər, -taɪər, ˈsɔl- /

noun

Heraldry.

1. an ordinary in the form of a cross with arms running diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base and from the sinister chief to the dexter base; St. Andrew's cross.

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idioms

1. per saltire, diagonally in both directions.

   party per saltire.

2. in saltire, (of charges) arranged in the form of a saltire.

saltire British  

/ ˈsɔːlˌtaɪə /

noun

1. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal cross on a shield

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Etymology

Origin of saltire

1350–1400; Middle English sawtire < Middle French sautoir crossed jumping bar < Medieval Latin saltātōrium something pertaining to jumping; see saltant, -tory ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

saltire

Despite the short list of names to go from Scotland to America's most popular sport, the saltire has been flown at the Super Bowl.

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2024

Instead, as she did at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, she’d represent the saltire of Scotland — a nation with its own legal system and church.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 24, 2021

The campaign saw him raise grassroots funding to travel across Scotland in a Green Goddess fire engine that had been painted in the colours of the saltire.

From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2017

At Mississippi State University, students protested the flying of the Mississippi state flag, which includes the Confederate battle flag saltire.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2016

It probably contained his coat of arms, which were: vert, a cross saltire argent between four lilies of the second.

From A Short Account of King's College Chapel by Littlechild, Walter Poole