Cabossed

In heraldry, cabossed, or caboched, is a term used where the head of a beast is cut off behind the ears, by a section parallel to the face; or by a perpendicular section: in contrast to couping, which is done by a horizontal line, and farther from the ears than cabossing.[1]

A stag's head cabossed sable attired gules in the arms of Calder

In other words, heads may appear cabossed (also caboshed or caboched): with the head cleanly separated from the neck so that only the face shows; couped: with the neck cleanly separated from the body so that the whole head and neck are present; or erased: with the neck showing a ragged edge as if forcibly torn from the body.

While cabossed heads are shown facing forward (affronté), heads that are couped or erased face dexter unless otherwise specified for differencing. Heads of horned beasts are often shown cabossed to display the horns, but instances can be found in any of these circumstances.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Cabossed". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. C–Capillary (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. p. 138.

See also

References
  1. Chambers, Ephraim, 1680 (ca.)-1740. Cyclopædia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences .... History of Science and Technology, in University of Wisconsin Digital Collections


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