saltire
- 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.
- in saltire, (of charges) arranged in the form of a saltire.
- per saltire, diagonally in both directions: party per saltire.
Origin of saltire
Examples from the Web for saltire
Contemporary Examples of saltire
Someone has added a small Saltire to one of the wreaths, paying tribute to a shared history that was forged in battle.
“One extra Saltire among a sea of flags seems like a fair way to celebrate,” he said.
Historical Examples of saltire
The Chancellor of France bore two maces in saltire behind his shield.
French Book-platesWalter Hamilton
First Master of the Household: Under his arms two batons in saltire.
A Complete Guide to HeraldryArthur Charles Fox-Davies
The Precentor: Argent, on a saltire azure a fleur-de-lis or.
A Complete Guide to HeraldryArthur Charles Fox-Davies
The Treasurer: Gules, a saltire between four leopards' heads or.
A Complete Guide to HeraldryArthur Charles Fox-Davies
He was referring to his having told Lord Saltire that he had seen Charles.
RavenshoeHenry Kingsley
saltire
less commonly saltier
- heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal cross on a shield
Word Origin for saltire
Word Origin and History for saltire
c.1400, an ordinary that resembles a St. Andrew's Cross on a shield or flag, consisting of a bend dexter and a bend sinister crossing each other, from Middle French saultoir, literally "stirrup," from Medieval Latin saltatorium, properly neuter of Latin saltatorius "pertaining to leaping," from salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)). The connection between a stirrup and the diagonal cross is perhaps the two deltoid shapes that comprise the cross.