Bordure, Border

French: bordure and brisure; Latin: bordura, limbus, margo and fimbria or fimbra.

One of the subordinaries originally used as a mark of cadency to distinguish one part of a family from another or to  indicate that the bearer is a cadet of the house he carries. In ancient heraldry, it may  have referred to maternal descent. Although originally used as a difference, the bordure is now used as a charge and considered a subordinary.

The bordure is of an equal breadth at every part, and surrounds the field, taking up one-fifth part of it. It should not have any shadow, but be parted from the field by a fine line only. In blazoning arms the bordure is placed over all ordinaries and subordinaries except the chief and the canton. In impaling, the side of the bordure next to the divisional line is omitted.

The bordure has no diminutives, but may at times be surmounted by another of half its width. When a bordure is bezanté, billeté or has similar markings, the number of bezants or billets, unless otherwise mentioned, is always eight.

According to the kind of charges bordures have been distinguished by different appellations, quite needlessly, since the charge must be expressly named with each particular term. The different terms are as follow:

Bordure enaluron is the term used when charged with birds, but the kind of bird must be particularly named.

Bordure entoire, entoyre, entoye or entier is so termed when charged with inanimate things, as bezants, escallops, etc. which must nevertheless be    

particularly named.

Bordure enurny. When charged with lions, etc. naming the particular beast.

Bordure verdoy. When charged with vegetables, which must be particularly named.

Bordure purflewed. When shaped like vair, or of any of the furs, but expressly naming the kind. But see Purflew

per pale arg a bordure engrailed gu and a chevron az between 2 torteaux in chief and one in base

When impaling arms, the bordure, whether it occurs in both or either of the arms, is not continued all round the coat it belongs to, but is invariably omitted at the line of impalement where the two coats unite.

Bordures are borne in various ways and may be parted in most of the partition lines.

Various emblazonments of the Bordure