Orle
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A bordure that runs around the outline of a shield without touching the edge.
"1819, In his hand he bore that singular “abacus”, or staff of office, with which Templars are usually represented, having at the upper end a round plate, on which was engraved the cross of the Order, inscribed within a circle or orle, as heralds term it. — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe"
- 2 The wreath, or chaplet, surmounting or encircling the helmet of a knight and bearing the crest; a torse.
- 3 A fillet under the ovolo of a capital.
- 1 A municipality of Croatia.
Example
More examples"1819, In his hand he bore that singular “abacus”, or staff of office, with which Templars are usually represented, having at the upper end a round plate, on which was engraved the cross of the Order, inscribed within a circle or orle, as heralds term it. — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe"
Etymology
From Old French (also modern) orle, from orler (“to hem”), or from Vulgar Latin *orula, a diminutive of Latin ora (“edge”), probably from os, oris (“mouth”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.