tressure

American  

[tresh-er] / ˈtrɛʃ ər /

noun

1. Heraldry. a narrower diminutive of the orle, usually ornamented with fleurs-de-lis at the edges and often doubled.

2. Numismatics. an ornamental border enclosing the type on a coin or medal.

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tressure British  

/ ˈtrɛʃə, ˈtrɛsjʊə /

noun

1. heraldry a narrow inner border on a shield, usually decorated with fleurs-de-lys

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Other Word Forms

• tressured adjective

Etymology

Origin of tressure

1275–1325; late Middle English < Middle French, equivalent to tress ( er ) to braid, plait (derivative of tresse tress ) + -ure -ure; replacing Middle English tressour < Middle French tresseor, tressoir

Example Sentences

The arms of House Poole were a blue plate on white, framed by a grey tressure.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

For the Stouts, chevrony russet and gold, for Slate, a grey field within a double tressure white.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

The Tressure or flowered tressure is a figure which is correctly described by Woodward’s incorrect description of the orle as cited above, being a narrow inner border of the shield.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

These arms are a swan with his wings expanded, within a double tressure, counter, flory, argent.

From Old and New London Volume I by Thornbury, Walter

The fabulous account of the tressure is that it was given by Charlemagne to Achaius, king of Scotland in the year 792, in token of alliance and friendship.

From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony