Couchée. Said of a Shield when suspended from the sinister extremity of the chief, or when placed as if it were so suspended. No. [49].
Count, Countess. Count, in Latin “Comes,” the same as Earl. Countess, the wife of an Earl: she is “Right Honourable,” and styled “My Lady”: her coronet is the same as that of an Earl.
Counter. Reversed or opposite.
Counter-changing. See [page 44], and Nos. [70], [126].
Counter Componée. Double Componée, or two conjoined rows of alternately tinctured squares. No. [67].
Counter-Embattled. A term in use for a fesse, bar, or chevron when embattled on both edges.
Counter-seal. Early seals were generally impressed on both sides; and the seals thus were produced from two dies or matrices. The two sides were severally called the seal and the counter-seal, the latter being termed the reverse of the compound composition. Every such double impression constituted a single seal. Both seal and counter-seal were sometimes used alone; and the counter-seal was regarded as a private seal, or secretum.
Couped. Cut off smoothly—the reverse of “erased.”
Couple-close. Half a chevronel.
Courant. Running.