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A stylised lion, the commonest beast in European heraldry.
Also known as: Lion rampant, Leopard
The most frequently borne animal charge in European arms. Heraldic lions are drawn to a convention rather than from life — exaggerated claws, a tufted tail, a fierce mask — and the blazon fixes the attitude, so 'lion' alone means a lion rampant.
The commonest animate charge in European heraldry, borne in a variety of attitudes of which rampant is the default when the blazon names none.
Drawn to a stylised convention rather than naturalistically, with exaggerated claws, a tufted tail and a formalised mask, so that it reads clearly at a distance and at small size.
In older French blazon a lion passant guardant was termed a leopard, which is why the English royal arms are described in some sources as bearing three leopards. The term refers to the pose, not to a different animal.
Medieval
The silhouette of a stylised lion in profile with a full mane, extended claws and a tail ending in a tuft, usually reared on its hind legs.
A griffin has an eagle's head, wings and forelegs on a lion's body, and is often mistaken for a winged lion.
The attitude is blazoned together with the beast.