Surmounted

An ordinary is surmounted when it has another charge laid over and across  it. On the other hand, a charge or an ordinary over which another ordinary is placed across is debruised. Compare also with supercharge where one charge is placed  upon and within the other.

 However this fine distinction is not always strictly followed as will be seen in the following examples.

Debruised and surmounted are often indiscriminately used when describing a charge, other than an ordinary, laid over and across another charge

Illustration:
Inguanez coat of arms: Arg a bend az surmounted by, on a base vert, a castle with two towers

Ermine a chief or surmounted by a fillet gu

A chief borne by another is surmounted. Compare with Supported  

Cross surmounted of another, by some called a Cross Edged or fimbriated, but differing from it by showing the thickness of the upper cross, if properly shaded, unlike a Cross Edged or fimbriated which should show only a plain dividing line. A Cross voided, on the other hand, should be shaded to show the thickness of the border within the area voided and thereby revealing the field.