bordure: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (rare, technical term)Formal, Technical, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “bordure” mean?
A border or edge, especially the edge of a shield in heraldry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A border or edge, especially the edge of a shield in heraldry.
In heraldry, a narrow border around the edge of a shield, often used as a mark of difference or cadency. In a broader sense, it can refer to any similar decorative or defining border in art, design, or architecture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage, as the term is a specialist term in an international field. British sources may use it slightly more frequently due to historical and institutional connections to heraldry.
Connotations
Technical, antiquated, heraldic, aristocratic.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties. Its occurrence is confined to texts on heraldry, historical fiction, or poetic/archaic language.
Grammar
How to Use “bordure” in a Sentence
[Shield/Arms] + with + a/an + [Tincture] + bordurea bordure + of + [Tincture]to differ by a bordureVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bordure” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The arms were bordured argent to denote a cadet branch.
- He bordured his personal seal with a simple line.
American English
- The coat of arms is bordured gules for distinction.
- They bordured the emblem to set it apart.
adverb
British English
- The shield was described bordurely in the manuscript.
American English
- The design runs bordurely around the entire escutcheon.
adjective
British English
- The bordure design is characteristic of Scottish heraldry.
- He studied the bordure patterns on medieval manuscripts.
American English
- A bordure charge can change the meaning of the arms.
- The bordure element was added in the 17th century.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical, art historical, or heraldic studies.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core usage context: heraldry, vexillology, sigillography.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bordure”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'border' in modern contexts.
- Misspelling as 'boarder' or 'border'.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the second syllable (/bɔːrˈdjʊr/ is less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially yes in origin, but in modern English it is *not* a general synonym. It is a technical term almost exclusively used in heraldry to describe a specific border on a coat of arms.
The most common pronunciation is /ˈbɔːdjʊə/ (BOR-dyur), with the stress on the first syllable. A less common variant is /bɔːrˈdjʊr/ (bor-DYUR).
Almost certainly not. It is a specialist term. You might encounter it in historical novels, museum descriptions of armour, or in societies dedicated to genealogy and heraldry.
Both are borders. An orle is a narrower bordure that, when depicted, does not touch the edges of the shield but is inset, appearing as a voided bordure. The distinction can be subtle and is defined by specific heraldic conventions.
A border or edge, especially the edge of a shield in heraldry.
Bordure is usually formal, technical, archaic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is too technical for idiomatic use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PICTURE FRAME – it's a BORDURE for your art. 'Bordure' sounds like 'border' but fancier and for shields.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFERENCE IS A BORDER (a bordure marks a difference in heraldic lineage). LIMITATION/ DEFINITION IS AN EDGE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the word 'bordure' a standard technical term?