Roundels and Gouttes
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Roundels and Gouttes

A quick reference by Lord Madog Hir of Aire Faucon

Roundels and gouttes have distinct terms that can be used for each tincture. While usage was inconsistent within period texts, these are the terms most commonly used in SCA blazon.

Regular Color Term

Heraldic Tincture

Image of Roundel

Heraldic Term for Roundel
Singular/Plural/Semy

 

Image of Goutte

Heraldic Term for Goutte

White
Silver

Argent

White/silver/argent circle

Plate
Plates
Platy

 

White droplet

Goutte d'eau
(drop of water)

Blue

Azure

Blue/azure circle

Hurt
Hurts
Hurty

 

Blue droplet

Goutte de larmes
(drop of tears)

Red

Gules

Red/gules circle

Torteau
Torteaux
Semy of torteaux

 

Red droplet

Goutte de sang
(drop of blood)

Yellow
Gold

Or

Yellow/gold/Or circle

Bezant
Bezants
Bezanty

 

Yellow/Gold droplet

Goutte d'Or
(drop of gold)

Purple

Purpure

Purple/purpure circle

Golpe
Golpes
Golpy

 

Purple droplet

Goutte de vin
(drop of wine)

Black

Sable

Black/sable circle

Pellet, ogress or gunstone
Pellets, ogresses, or gunstones
Pellety

 

Black droplet

Goutte de poix
(drop of pitch)

Green

Vert

Green/vert circle

Pomme
Pommes
Semy of pommes/Pommy


Green droplet

Goutte de huix, or Goutte d'olive
(drop of oil, or drop of olive)

Wavy stripes
of alternating
blue and white

Barry wavy
azure and argent

Circle of horizontal wavy stripes alternating blue and white/ Barry wavy azure and argent circle

Fountain





Roundels

* Names for gouttes in period are inconsistent—Parker lists several variant spellings and variant names.


Gouttes:

* Semy of gouts is called goutty. We have used the term guttee, but not since 1979. Goutté has not been used since 1984, but is discouraged, as it can be confused with the singular Goutte.

* In historical usage, gouttes are seldom seen singly.