Ex. Argent, a salmon proper haurient.
HELMET. An ancient piece of defensive armour for the head; it covered the face, leaving an aperture in the front, secured by bars: this was called the visor. The helmet is now placed over a coat of arms; and by the metal from which it is made, the form, and position, denotes the rank of the person whose arms are emblazoned beneath it.
The helmets of sovereigns are formed of burnished gold; those of princes and peers, of every degree, silver figured with gold; knights, esquires, and gentlemen, polished steel.
The helmets of the king, the royal family, and peers, are open-faced and grated: the number of bars served formerly to distinguish the bearer's quality. The helmets of knights are open-faced, without bars. Esquires and gentlemen are known by the close helmet.
The position of the helmet is a mark of distinction. The direct front view of the grated helmet belongs to sovereign princes and dukes.
The grated helmet in profile is common to all degrees of peerage under a duke.
The helmet without bars, with the beaver open, standing directly fronting the spectator, denotes a knight.