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A small charge added to arms to distinguish one son from another.
Also known as: Difference mark, Brisure
A cadency mark is a small charge added to a coat of arms to distinguish the sons of one father: in the English scheme a label for the first son, a crescent for the second, a mullet for the third, a martlet for the fourth, an annulet for the fifth and so on. The scheme is far more theoretical than heraldic writing suggests — English practice has never applied it systematically, and Scottish practice uses a quite different system of bordures granted individually.
Distinguishes the sons of one armiger by adding a small charge to the arms, in a fixed order beginning with a label for the eldest and a crescent for the second.
England · Contexts: History
Is far more theoretical than heraldic textbooks imply. English practice has never applied the scheme systematically, and its neat sequence is repeated far more often than it is used.
England · Contexts: History
Has a quite different Scottish counterpart, where difference is made by bordures and other changes granted individually to each cadet rather than by a standard series of small charges.
Scotland · Contexts: History
A small charge — a bar with hanging tabs, a crescent, a five-pointed star, a bird without feet or a plain ring — placed centrally near the top of a shield.
Both identify a particular person's arms.