border

heraldry

Also known as: bordure

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

In heraldry, a bordure is a border that appears on a heraldic shield. It is considered an ordinary in English heraldry. An orle is similar, forming a border within the edge of the shield, either as a series of small charges or as a distinct border that does not touch the shield's edge. Bordures and orles can be used to signify different things, such as cadency or illegitimacy, depending on the specific heraldic tradition.123

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heraldry
Ordinaries
The border, or bordure, is in Scotland used as a mark of difference, and in English heraldry since the mid-18th century a bordure compony (alternating sections of two tinctures) has been used to signify illegitimacy. The orle is an inner border, not touching the sides of…
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The border, or bordure, is in Scotland used as a mark of difference, and in English heraldry since the mid-18th century a bordure compony (alternating sections of two tinctures) has been used to signify illegitimacy. The orle is an inner border, not touching the sides of…
Read More