inescutcheon

heraldry

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July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

An inescutcheon is a small shield that is placed within a larger shield in heraldry. This term is also sometimes spelled as inescucheon.1

An escutcheon of pretense is a specific type of inescutcheon. It is displayed on the shield of a husband who is married to an heiress or coheiress.2

In heraldry, the shield itself is called an escutcheon, and its surface is referred to as the field. The field can be divided into sections, and various symbols, known as charges, are placed upon it to create a coat of arms. These charges can include animals, objects, and geometric shapes.34

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heraldry
Ordinaries
…as a charge is an inescutcheon and often is used to bear the arms of an heraldic heiress (a daughter of a family of no sons). The quarter occupies one-fourth of the shield; the canton, smaller than the quarter, is one-third of the chief. Checky, or chequy, describes the field…
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…as a charge is an inescutcheon and often is used to bear the arms of an heraldic heiress (a daughter of a family of no sons). The quarter occupies one-fourth of the shield; the canton, smaller than the quarter, is one-third of the chief. Checky, or chequy, describes the field…
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