martlet

[ mahrt-lit ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

British Dialect. a house martin.
Heraldry. a representation of a swallow close and without legs, used especially as the cadency mark of a fourth son.

martlet

/ ˈmɑːtlɪt /

See martin
an archaic name for a martin
heraldry a footless bird often found in coats of arms, standing for either a martin or a swallow

Origin of martlet¹

1530–40; < Middle French martelet, variant of martinet; martin, -et

Origin of martlet¹

C16: from French martelet, variant of martinet, diminutive of martin

No, mother; old Ben Martlet said something of that kind to me this morning.

Martlet and I both feel that we must have the north-west tower.

The Swallow, as distinct from the martlet, is sometimes met with.

Most heraldry books state also that the martlet has no beak.

Gates of wrought iron, with perhaps a martlet from the Byrd coat of arms above them, swung between tall pillars in the wall.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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