Heraldry Dictionary Section N

Nag's-Head. See Horse.

Naiant, Natant or Nageant. Swimming; applied to fish in that position.

Naiant Counter Naiant. Swimming in a contrary direction.

Nail. A closing, and passion nail.

Nailed. See Lattice.

Naisant or Naissant. Coming out.

Narcissus. A flower consisting of six petals, each resembling the leaf of a cinquefoil.

Nascent. See Naisant.

Natand or Natant. The same as Naiant.

National Banner or Ensign. See Union Flag.

Naunce. The same as Nebule. 

Naval-Crown. See Crown

Naval-Medals. See Medal.

Naval-Point. See Points of Escutcheon.

Navetty or Navette. Semee of Shuttles.

Nebule, Nebula, Nebuly or Nebulée. Also termed Nebular and Nebulose. A crooked line to which all the ordinaries and partition lines are subject; it is intended to represent clouds.

Negro. See Moor. 

Neptune or Triton. Half a man, and half a fish, generally drawn with a Trident.

Neptune's-Mace or Trident. A fork of three prongs barbed.

Nerved. When the fibres of leaves are of a different tincture from the leaf, they are said to he nerved.

Neve or Newe. Fretted, or Nowed.

Newt. Also termed Eft or Effet. An animal of the lizard kind.

Nightingale. A bird that sings at night.

Nimbed. Having the head encircled with a Nimbus.

Nimbus, Aureole or Glory. A circle of rays, sometimes represented by a plain circle. See Glory.

Nippers. See Glazier's-Nippers.

Nislee or Nyllée. Narrow, slender. La croix nylee is by some considered to be the cross-cercellee; by others a cross-moline depicted very slender.

Noah's Ark. See Ark.

Nobility. Those who hold a rank above the degree of a Knight, and are distinguished by titles and privileges.

Nombril or Navel-point. See Points of Escutcheon.

Norman-shield. Also termed the Heater-shield. See Escutcheon.

Norroy. The title of one of the King's of Arms, whose jurisdiction extends over England, North of the river Trent.

Nova Scotia, Baronets of. Instituted by James the First of England and Sixth of Scotland, for the planting of that country by Scottish colonies; as he created Baronets of England for the conquest and planting of the province of Ulster in Ireland. The Nova Scotia Baronets are distinguished by the Badge, viz., ar. a Saltire az., thereon an escutcheon of the arms of Scotland, with an imperial crown above the escutcheon; all encircled with the motto, on a blue ribbon, edged with gold. The motto is "Fax mentis honestæ gloria", in gold letters, suspended from the shield by an orange coloured ribbon. These Baronets are all allowed to wear Supporters.

Noued. See Nowed.

Nourri. Applied to flowers when a part is cut off, and signifies couped.

Nowed. Tied in a knot, as a serpent nowed.

Nowy. See Partition lines.

Nowyd. When the projection is not in the centre, but in each of the limbs.

Nuance. The same as Nebulée.

Nuce. A cloud.

Nut, Nut-tree and Nut-branch, are all found in Heraldry.

Nute. See Newt.

Nuthatch. A bird. Crest of Feilden.

Nylle. See Nislée.

Nymph. A female figure is sometimes blazoned a Nymph.