saltire

[sal-teer, -tahyuh r, sawl-]

noun Heraldry.

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.

Idioms

in saltire, (of charges) arranged in the form of a saltire.
per saltire, diagonally in both directions: party per saltire.

Origin of saltire

1350–1400; Middle English sawtire < Middle French sautoir crossed jumping bar < Medieval Latin saltātōrium something pertaining to jumping; see saltant, -tory²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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.
Voter Intimidation Grips Scotland as It Votes on Independence
Nico Hines
September 18, 2014
“One extra Saltire among a sea of flags seems like a fair way to celebrate,” he said.
Andy Murray Survived Dunblane School Massacre Before Winning Wimbledon
Nico Hines
July 9, 2013

Historical Examples of saltire

The Chancellor of France bore two maces in saltire behind his shield.
French Book-plates
Walter Hamilton
First Master of the Household: Under his arms two batons in saltire.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
The Precentor: Argent, on a saltire azure a fleur-de-lis or.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
The Treasurer: Gules, a saltire between four leopards' heads or.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
He was referring to his having told Lord Saltire that he had seen Charles.
Ravenshoe
Henry Kingsley

British Dictionary definitions for saltire

saltire

less commonly saltier

noun

heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal cross on a shield

Word Origin for saltire

C14 sawturoure, from Old French sauteour cross-shaped barricade, from saulter to jump, from Latin saltāre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.