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Canadian Heraldic Dictionary

Dictionary entries beginning with the letter A Dictionary entries beginning with the letter B Dictionary entries beginning with the letter C Dictionary entries beginning with the letter D Dictionary entries beginning with the letter E Dictionary entries beginning with the letter F Dictionary entries beginning with the letter G Dictionary entries beginning with the letter H Dictionary entries beginning with the letter I Dictionary entries beginning with the letter J Dictionary entries beginning with the letter K Dictionary entries beginning with the letter L Dictionary entries beginning with the letter M Dictionary entries beginning with the letter N Dictionary entries beginning with the letter O Dictionary entries beginning with the letter P Dictionary entries beginning with the letter Q Dictionary entries beginning with the letter R Dictionary entries beginning with the letter S Dictionary entries beginning with the letter T Dictionary entries beginning with the letter U Dictionary entries beginning with the letter V Dictionary entries beginning with the letter W Dictionary entries beginning with the letter X Dictionary entries beginning with the letter Y Dictionary entries beginning with the letter Z

Term Source Meaning Illustration
Haida Watchman Military Police Security Service. Vol VI, P 81 In Haida totem poles, the Watchman figure is often seated at the top to protect the adjacent long-house. In this case it alludes to the security work performed by this service.
Haietlik 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, RCAF, Vol VI, P 130 The Haietlik or Lightning Snake is a legendary monster of the West Coast Nuu-chah-nulch tribe. It was dispatched to kill whales, a major source of food for the people.
Handbell West St. Paul, Man. Vol V, P 193 The Handbell of the crest recalls the signal for the arrival of the Red River ferry.
Handpress The Alcuin Society. Vol V, P 145 The Handpress, shown here in base, was used for an early form of printing. It symbolizes the production of fine books.
Harbour Porpoise District of Port Edward, BC., Vol V, P 97 The Harbour Porpoise is one of the smaller sea mammals. It is widespread in cooler coastal waters.
Harp Seal Crosbie, John. Vol V, P 447 The Harp Seal marks the significance of the seal hunt to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Harpoon (Inuit) Elias, E.A., (Son’s badge). Vol Vi, P 140 The Harpoon (shown here in a badge of the grantee’s son) is a hunting weapon of the Inuit.
Harrow Township of Rawdon, Que., Vol II, P 136 In agriculture, the Harrow (shown here in its ancient form) is an implement for breaking up and smoothing out the surface of the soil. It differs from the plough, which is used for deeper tillage. It may allude simply to agriculture or, more symbolically, to maintaining strong, smooth relationships with others.
Hawk, Red-tailed Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada, Vol V, P 300 The Red-tailed Hawk is commonly found in most regions of Canada.
Hazard Symbols CF Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Defence Company These modern symbols (clockwise from the dexter chief – nuclear, biological and chemical) may be of use for institutions associated with those hazards.
Heliadion Woman-Lioness Robert McCausland Stained Glass Company. Vol II, P 209 The sinister supporter of these arms shows the bare torso of a woman conjoined with the hindquarters of a lioness – what mostordinary folk might call a Woman-Lion. It is in fact blazoned as a Heliadion. This is a classical reference to the devotees of the Greek goddess Helen of Troy, daughter of the super-god Zeus and said to be the most beautiful woman in the world.
Helicopter Rotor Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation Facility. Vol III, P 395 The Helicopter Rotor refers to the elevating power of this aircraft. In another context, it might allude to the idea of rising up to great heights.
Heron, Great Blue Ville de Richmond, Que., Vol V, P 303 The Great Blue Heron is a magnificent bird found across Canada.
Hippo-Wyvern Powell, I., Vol Iv, P 532 The Hippo-Wyvern is a combination of the heraldic wyvern (an early form of dragon) with the upper parts of a horse. It links the grace of the horse with the power of the dragon.
Hockey Stick THE CITY OF TRAIL, Trail, British Columbia. April 3, 2001 Vol. IV, p. 93 The traditional sports symbol of Canada.
Hooded Warbler NORFOLK COUNTY, ONTARIO, VOL IV, P 355 The Hooded Warbler is a distinctive small bird, largely restricted in Canada to the area of Norfolk county.
Hornet 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, RCAF, Vol VI, P 131 The Hornet, or wasp is an insect with a vicious sting. It here alludes to the squadron’s nickname in the Second World War.
Horse Chestnut Tree École Secondaire Louis-Riel, Montreal, PQ., Vol III, P 309 The Horse-Chestnut Tree is common throughout the temperate world. It is not, in fact, a chestnut, but is so called because it was at once erroneously thought that its fruit cured horses of chest complaints. It is a commonly used as a decorative tree in parks and avenues.
Horse Collar Reinhardt Family Association. Vol III, P 103 The Horse Collar refers to the grantee’s agricultural background, and a symbol of harnessed energy.
Horse-Dove Lafond, J-D. Vol V, P264 The beaked, winged supporters represent a hybrid between a horse and a dove.
Hot Air Balloon Corel Corporation. Vol III, P 118 The Hot Air Balloon was the earliest method of flight by humans. It refers here to the company’s first logo.
Human Brain Ethell, D.W. Vol VI, P 281 The Human Brain (four shown here in the arms of the grantee’s son) refers to the son’s work in neurobiology. It might also be used to allude to wisdom.
Human Femur Canadian Orthopaedic Association. Vol II, P 82 The Human Femur – seen here in bend sinister – is the largest bone in the body. It clearly refers to the work of orthopaedic surgeons.
Hummingbird 3 Air Maintenance Squadron, RCAF. (Badge) Vol III, p 386 The Hummingbird is a New World bird. It is among the smallest birds. Their name refers to the humming sound created by their beating wings, as they hover over flowers, whose nectar provides their main food.
Husky Yukon, Commissioner The working dog of the North.
Hypotrochoid Lambert, P. Vol VI, P 67 The Hypotrochoid is made up of a series of interlaced loops, reminiscent of a Celtic pattern, and is used in this case as suggestive of an atom.