Coat of Arms

The term "coat of arms" or "arms" is frequently applied in two different ways. In some uses, it may indicate a full achievement of arms or heraldic achievement, which includes a variety of elements — usually a crest sitting atop a helmet, itself sitting on a shield; other common elements include supporters holding up the shield and a motto beneath. Other times, "coat of arms" or "arms" is used to refer simply to the escutcheon (i.e. the shield itself). The "coat of arms" frequently were adorned with a device - a motto, emblem, or other mark used by a Knight-errant to distinguish himself from others. If a motto affixed to the arms, it usually had some punning allusion to his name. A device differed from a badge or cognizance primarily because as it was a personal distinction, and not a badge borne by members of the same house successively.