Indigo. A deep blue pigment prepared from the leaves and branches of a small shrub; it is transparent, tolerably permanent, and mixes well with other pigments, forming excellent greens and purples. A deep brown, known as indigo brown and a deep red resin, known as indigo red, may be extracted by purifying the blue colour obtained from this dye. The old blue dye of the aboriginal Britons was produced from woad (isatis tinctoria). (Fairholt.) (See Intense Blue.)
Inescutcheon, Her. An heraldic shield borne as a charge.
Inferiæ, R. Sacrifices or offerings made at the tombs of the dead.
Infiammati. A literary society of Padua in Italy. Device: Hercules upon the funeral pile on Mount Œta. Motto: “Arso il mortal al ciel n’ andrà l’ eterno.”
Infocati. One of the Italian literary societies. Device: a bar of hot iron on an anvil, beaten by two hammers. Motto: “In quascunque formas.”
In Foliage, Her. Bearing leaves.
Infrenatus (sc. eques), R. A horseman who rides without a bridle (frenum), controlling his horse solely by the voice or the pressure of the knees upon its side. (Fig. [282].)
Infula, R. A flock of red and white wool worn by priestesses and vestals and other Romans on festive or solemn occasions. In sacrificing also an infula was tied with a white band (vitta) upon the victim. Hence—
Infulæ, Chr. Ribands hanging from a bishop’s mitre.
In Glory, In Splendour, Her. The sun irradiated.