# Dexter and sinister > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dexter_and_sinister > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dexter_and_sinister.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_and_sinister > Source revision: 1356549167 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Heraldic terminology indicating relative direction Not to be confused with [sinistral and dextral](/source/Sinistral_and_dextral). For dexter and sinister in biology, see [anatomical terms of location](/source/Anatomical_terms_of_location). Division of the heraldic escutcheon: dexter to the bearer's right (viewer's left), the position of honour; sinister to the bearer's left (viewer's right). The different view points of knight and viewer; the heraldic view is that of the knight. Charges on the shield, like this lion rampant, look to the dexter side unless otherwise stated in the blazon - unless reversed for [heraldic courtesy](/source/Heraldic_courtesy), a practice more common in Continental Europe than in Britain ***Dexter*** and ***sinister*** are terms used in [heraldry](/source/Heraldry) to refer to specific locations in an [escutcheon](/source/Escutcheon_(heraldry)) bearing a [coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms), and to the other elements of an [achievement](/source/Achievement_(heraldry)). *Dexter* ([Latin](/source/Latin) for 'right')[1] indicates the right-hand side of the shield, as regarded by the bearer, i.e. the bearer's [proper right](/source/Proper_right), and to the left as seen by the viewer. *Sinister* (Latin for 'left')[2] indicates the left-hand side as regarded by the bearer – the bearer's proper left, and to the right as seen by the viewer. In [vexillology](/source/Vexillology), the terms *[hoist](/source/Glossary_of_vexillology)* and *[fly](/source/Glossary_of_vexillology)* are preferred, although these are not direct equivalents, as their meaning varies with the direction in which the flag is flying. *Argent a **bend sinister** gules*. The bend sinister extends upward to the sinister corner, while the bend (i.e. bend dexter) extends upward to the dexter corner of a shield. ## Significance The dexter side is considered the side of greater [honour](/source/Honour), for example when [impaling](/source/Impalement_(heraldry)) two arms. Thus, by tradition, a husband's arms occupy the dexter half of his shield, his wife's paternal arms the sinister half. The shield of a bishop shows the arms of his [see](/source/Episcopal_see) in the dexter half, his personal arms in the sinister half. King [Richard II](/source/Richard_II) adopted arms showing the attributed arms of [Edward the Confessor](/source/Edward_the_Confessor) in the dexter half and the [royal arms of England](/source/Royal_arms_of_England) in the sinister. More generally, by ancient tradition, the guest of greatest honour at a banquet sits at the right hand of the host. The [Bible](/source/Bible) is replete with passages referring to being at the "right hand" of God. Sinister is used to indicate that an ordinary or other charge is turned to the heraldic left of the shield. A *[bend sinister](/source/Bend_sinister)* is a [bend](/source/Bend_(heraldry)) (diagonal band) which runs from the bearer's top left to bottom right, as opposed to top right to bottom left.[3] As the shield would have been carried with the design facing outwards from the bearer, the bend sinister would slant in the same direction as a sash worn diagonally on the left shoulder. A *bend* (without qualification, implying a *bend dexter*, though the full term is never used) is a bend which runs from the bearer's top right to bottom left. In the same way, the terms *per bend* and *per bend sinister* are used to describe a heraldic shield [divided by a line](/source/Division_of_the_field) like a bend or bend sinister, respectively. This division is key to [dimidiation](/source/Dimidiation), a method of joining two coats of arms by placing the dexter half of one coat of arms alongside the sinister half of the other. In the case of marriage, the dexter half of the husband's arms would be placed alongside the sinister half of the wife's. The practice fell out of use as early as the 14th century and was replaced by [impalement](/source/Impalement_(heraldry)). In some cases, it could render the arms that are cut in half unrecognizable[4] and in some cases, it would result in a shield that looked like one coat of arms rather than a combination of two.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The [Great Seal of the United States](/source/Great_Seal_of_the_United_States) features an eagle clutching an [olive branch](/source/Olive_branch) in its dexter talon and arrows in its sinister talon, indicating the nation's stated intended inclination to peace. In 1945, one of the changes ordered for the similarly arranged [flag of the president of the United States](/source/Flag_of_the_president_of_the_United_States) by [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [Harry S. Truman](/source/Harry_S._Truman) was having the eagle face towards its right (dexter, the direction of honour) and thus towards the olive branch.[5][6] ## Origin The sides of a [shield](/source/Shield) were originally named for the purpose of military training of knights and soldiers long before heraldry came into use early in the 13th century so the only viewpoint that was relevant was the bearer's. The front of the purely functional shield was originally undecorated. It is likely that the use of the shield as a defensive and offensive weapon was almost as developed as that of the sword itself and so the various positions or strokes of the shield needed to be described to students of arms. Such usage may indeed have descended directly from Roman training techniques that were spread throughout Roman Europe and then continued during the age of [chivalry](/source/Chivalry) when heraldry came into use.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-cawley_1-0)** Cawley, Kevin; Florin Neumann; Matt Neuberg; Lynn Nelson (2012). ["Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid"](http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=dext&ending=er). [University of Notre Dame](/source/University_of_Notre_Dame) Archives. Retrieved 2012-09-04. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Cawley, Kevin. ["Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230326231247/http://archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=sinist&ending=er). *Latin Word Lookup*. [University of Notre Dame](/source/University_of_Notre_Dame). Archived from [the original](http://archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=sinist&ending=er) on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2016-07-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Friar, Stephen, ed. (1987). *A New Dictionary of Heraldry*. London: Alphabooks Ltd./[A & C Black Plc](/source/A_%26_C_Black). p. 58. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-906670-44-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-906670-44-6). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Woodcock, Thomas](/source/Thomas_Woodcock_(officer_of_arms)); [Robinson, John Martin](/source/John_Martin_Robinson) (1988). [*The Oxford Guide to Heraldry*](https://books.google.com/books?id=8E1mAAAAMAAJ&q=unrecognizable). [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). p. 118. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-211658-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-211658-4). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Truman issued [Executive Order](/source/Executive_order_(United_States)) [9646](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_9646) on October 25, 1945. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Patterson, Richard Sharpe; Dougall, Richardson (1978) [1976 i.e. 1978]. [*The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States*](https://archive.org/stream/TheEagleAndTheShield/The%20Eagle%20and%20the%20Shield#page/n495/mode/2up). Department and Foreign Service series; 161 Department of State publication; 8900. Washington : Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, Dept. of State : for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off. p. 449. [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [78602518](https://lccn.loc.gov/78602518). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [4268298](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/4268298). In the new Coat of Arms, Seal and Flag, the Eagle not only faces to its right — the direction of honor — but also toward the olive branches of peace which it holds in its right talon. Formerly the eagle faced toward the arrows in its left talon — arrows, symbolic of war. v t e Heraldry Authorities Grant of arms History origin Law of arms Officers of arms King of Arms herald private pursuivant Societies Visitation Types National dominion civic Ecclesiastical papal Burgher Women Attributed Topics Armiger Augmentation abatement Ancient and modern Alliance courtesy Blazon Cadency distinction Canting Debased Dexter and sinister Field divisions variations Fraud Marshalling dimidiation impalement quartering National traditions Societies Achievement Coat of arms Crowns and coronets Crest Compartment Escutcheon Helmet Mantling pavilion Motto slogan Supporter Torse Charges Attitudes Erasure Fimbriation Lines Ordinaries variations Geometric Annulet Bar Base Bend Bordure Canton Chevron Łękawica Componée Crescent Star and crescent Cross Crozier head Chief Esquarre Esquire Fess Fillet Flaunch Gore Goutte Gusset Gyron Hamade Inescutcheon Label Lozenge Mount Orle Pale Pall Pile Roundel Bezant Fountain Saltire Side Star Beasts Bear Boar Bull/ox Dog/hound Camelopard Hind/stag Kangaroo Leopard Lion Wolf Birds Alerion Black swan Cock Crow Dove Eagle Double-headed Triple-headed Szaszor Martlet Pelican Other Aurora Bee Caldron Carbuncle Clarion Cossack Crapaudy Dolphin Emmet Fire basket Ged Heart Lucy Mill Pizzle Portcullis Reremouse Scallop Serpent Sun Trident Vol Wolfsangel Legendary Allocamelus Alphyn Amphiptere Basilisk Biscione Chollima Cockatrice Dragon Chinese Enfield Garuda Griffin/Keythong Harpy Hippocampus Hippogriff Lampago Lindworm Manticore Mermaid Musimon Ouroboros Pantheon Panther Pegasus Phoenix Salamander Sea-griffin Sea-lion Tyger Unicorn Winged lion Woodwose Wyvern Yale Plants Fleur-de-lis Laurel wreath Oak Quatrefoil Rose Shamrock Trefoil Thistle Turnip Waterlily/Seeblatt Knots Bourchier Bowen Cavendish/Savoy Dacre Harrington Hastings/Hungerford Heneage Hinckaert Hungerford knot Lacy Ormonde/Wake Savoy Stafford Tristram/Bowen Wake Tinctures Rule of tincture Tricking Hatching Metals Argent (white) Or (gold) Colours Gules (red) Sable (black) Azure (blue) Vert (green) Purpure (purple)1 Furs Ermine Ermines Erminois Erminites Pean Vair Potent Stains Murrey (mulberry) Sanguine (blood red) Tenné (tawny) Rare metals1 Copper Bronze Buff (United States) Rare colours1 Amaranth Aquamarine Bleu celeste (sky blue) Brunâtre (brown) Buff (Canada) Cendrée (ashen-grey) Horizon blue Ochre Orange Rose (pink) Realistic Proper Carnation Diapering Applications Bookplate Hatchment Flag banner of arms Badge Ordinary of arms Roll of arms Illyrian Seal equestrian Tabard Trophy of arms Related Mon Emblem socialist Logotype Phaleristics Vexillology Sigillography 1 Non-traditional, regional, or rarely used (sometimes considered unheraldic) List of oldest heraldry Heraldry portal resources --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dexter and sinister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_and_sinister) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_and_sinister?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.