Arms
The items on a coat of arms can be divided into a few groups: points, partition lines, ordinaries, and charges.
Partition Lines The lines used to partition the shield are given specific names. If these lines are used simply to divide a shield, it is blazoned ‘’party per’’ then the division. If used as a charge themselves they are known as Ordinaries.
Ornamental Lines Partition lines do not have to be straight to retain their name or symbolism. They can instead take on additional meaning with the added decoration.
Ordinaries
Ordinaries are shapes on the files of arms names according to the position and direction they take. Ordinaries are divided into three groups: honorable ordinaries, ordinaries, and sub ordinaries. These divisions are based on the area of the field the ordinaries cover. Narrower forms called diminutives are half or less than the normal width and usually occur in groups. Diminutives must show the field on either side and between each other.
Honorable ordinaries
Honorable ordinaries are said to have originated with the fasting, buckles and the clamps of the shield. They normally occupy up to a third of the surface area of the shield. They are blazoned immediately after the field is described.
Ordinaries
This is the catch all category of ordinaries which consists of those shapes that do not fall in the honorable ordinary or sub ordinary categories. Ordinaries cover about a fifth of the field, Some of the most common are detailed below.
Sub ordinaries
Scholars do not agree upon the division between ordinaries and subordinarys. Some say that the sub ordinaries must use less than one fifth of the field’s area. Regardless of the disputed qualifications, many heraldic authoring do agree that the items below are to be considered sub ordinaries. Sub ordinaries usually do not have diminutives.
