Pall (heraldry)

Argent, a pall gules

A pall (or pairle) in heraldry and vexillology is a Y-shaped 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 South African national flag.[1][2]

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.[3][2] A pall standing upside down is named pall reversed.[3]

An ecclesiastical pall on a shield, or pallium, is the heraldic indicator of archbishoprics.[2] These palls usually have a lower limb that stops short of the bottom of the shield with a fringe.[3]

Palls can also be modified with heraldic lines.[4] One example is the coat of Saint-Wandrille-Rançon.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brownell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference foxdavies was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference parker was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference woodward was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Histoire". Mairie de Rives-en-Seine (in French). Retrieved 31 December 2023.