impalement

The term "impale" has two primary meanings. In a general sense, it means to pierce or penetrate something with a pointed object, such as impaling a marshmallow on a stick. This can also extend to the more severe meaning of torturing or killing by fixing on a sharp stake.123

In heraldry, "impale" refers to a specific method of arranging coats of arms on a shield. This involves dividing the shield vertically down the middle with a line called a pale. This technique is used to display the arms of a husband and wife together, with the husband's arms on the dexter (right) side and the wife's on the sinister (left) side. It is also used for certain official arms, such as those of a bishop's see combined with their family arms.34