|-----------------| | A B C | A, the dexter chief. | | B, the precise middle chief. | D | C, the sinister chief. | | D, the honour point. | E | E, the fess point. | | F, the nombril point. | F | G, the dexter base. | | H, the precise middle base. | G H I | I, the sinister base. \ / \ --------- / The dexter side of the escutcheon answers to the left hand, and the sinister side to the right hand of the person that looks at it. TINCTURES. By the term _Tincture_ is meant that variable hue which is given to shields and their bearings; they are divided into colours and furs. The colours or metals used in emblazoning arms are-- yellow, white, red, blue, black, green, purple, orange, murrey. These colours are denoted in engravings by various lines or dots, as follows: [Illustration: OR] OR, which signifies _gold_, and in colour yellow, is expressed by dots. [Illustration: ARGENT] ARGENT signifies _silver_ or _white_: it is left quite plain. [Illustration: GULES] GULES signifies _red_: it is expressed by lines drawn from the chief to the base of the shield. [Illustration: AZURE] AZURE signifies _blue_: it is represented by lines drawn from the dexter to the sinister side of the shield, parallel to the chief. [Illustration: VERT] VERT signifies _green_: it is represented by slanting lines, drawn from the dexter to the sinister side of the shield. [Illustration: PURPURE] PURPURE, or _purple_, is expressed by diagonal lines, drawn from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield. [Illustration: SABLE] SABLE, or _black_, is expressed by horizontal and perpendicular lines crossing each other. [Illustration: TENNE] TENNE, which is _tawny_, or _orange_ colour, is marked by diagonal lines drawn from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield, traversed by perpendicular lines from the chief. [Illustration: SANGUINE] SANGUINE is _dark red_, or _murrey_ colour; it is represented by diagonal lines crossing each other. In addition to the foregoing tinctures, there are nine roundlets or balls used in Armory, the names of which are sufficient to denote their colour without expressing the same. [Illustration: BEZANT] BEZANT, _Or_. [Illustration: HURTS] HURTS, _Azure_. [Illustration: PLATE] PLATE, _Argent_. [Illustration: TORTEAUX] TORTEAUX, _gules_. [Illustration: GOLPE] GOLPE, _purpure_. [Illustration: ORANGE] ORANGE, _tenne_. [Illustration: POMEIS] POMEIS, _vert_. [Illustration: PELLET] PELLET, _sable_. [Illustration: GUZES] GUZES, _sanguine_. FURS. _Furs_ are used to ornament garments of state and denote dignity: they are used in Heraldry, not only for the lining of mantles and other ornaments of the shield, but also as bearings on escutcheons.