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

Derived 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 king of Scots bore “Gold a lion within a double tressure flowered and counterflowered gules.”

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

The Duke of Norfolk bears on his ‘bend argent’ ‘an escocheon or, charged with a demi-lion rampant within a double tressure, flory and counter-flory; an arrow pierced through the lion’s mouth all gules.’

From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony

The arms of Scotland exhibit an example of a double tressure flory and counter-flory, as exhibited in the shield on the title-page of this Manual.

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