Examples of divisions and shapes on shields.

Shields were often divided into parts, called divisions, or had basic shapes on them, called ordinaries. The most common shapes are shown below. Divisions do not have to follow the metal/color rule, as they are considered to lie next to each other, not one on top of another. Ordinaries do follow the rule.    Note that the same term is used to mean the name of a shape on the shield (such as a fess), how a shield is divided (per fess), or how smaller designs are arranged on a shield (fess wise).

 

Chief	Cross	Saltire	Tierce

Chevron	Chevron Inverted	Per Chevron	Per Chevron Inverted

Pile	Pile Inverted

Bend	Per Bend	Bend wise

Fess	Per Fess	Fess wise

Pale	Per Pale	Pale wise

Pall	Per Pall	Per Pall Inverted