Pall (heraldry)

Argent, a pall gules

A pall (or pairle) is a Y-shaped heraldic charge, normally having its arms in the three corners of the shield. An example of a pall placed horizontally (fesswise) is the green portion of the Flag of South Africa.

Argent, a pall reversed gules

A pall that stops short of the shield's edges and that has pointed ends to its three limbs is called a shakefork, although some heraldic sources do not make a distinction between a pall and a shakefork. A pall standing upside down is named pall reversed.

A pall on a shield may indicate a connection with the clergy, particularly archbishoprics, although in these cases the pall's lower limb usually stops short of the bottom of the shield and is fringed. Such a pall is often called an ecclesiastical pall or pallium. This is in reference to the ecclesiastical vestment from which this heraldic charge derives.

If there is symmetry within the arms, its blazon can be simplified in the English language by use of the heraldic term 'between' -- 'in the midst of, so as to make a symmetrical composition'.^[1] The coat of Saint-Wandrille-Rançon is an example where the French blasonnement is similar to the traditional English blazon, yet can be described with a simplified English blazon.

Modified palls

A pall can be modified by most of the lines of partition, such as the pall wavy in the coat of Saint-Wandrille-Rançon.

Gallery

• 

  Arms of the Earl of Glencairn, chief of Clan Cunningham: Argent, a shakefork sable

• 

  Arms of the See of Canterbury with an episcopal pallium

• 

  Arms of the town of Saint-Wandrille-Rançon:
  Vert, a pall wavy Argent accompanied in chief by one mill wheel Or and flanked by two fleurs-de-lys of the same.
  Because of the symmetry of the arms, the blazon can be simplified as:
  Vert a pall wavy Argent between one mill wheel and two fleurs-de-lys Or.

^[2]

References

1. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/between Definition of 'between', meaning 14 Heraldry. in the midst of, so as to make a symmetrical composition: a cross argent between four bezants.
2. Boutell, Charles (1914). Fox-Davies, A.C., ed. Handbook to English Heraldry, The (11th ed.). London: Reeves & Turner. pp. 58–59.