Arm (Period)

Cubit arm (Period)

An arm is a human upper limb.  By default, this includes the entire arm, couped just below the shoulder, unvested, and with clenched fist.  Arms are found in the, er, arms of Eckwersheim, c.1340 [Zurich 185].

The arm is most commonly shown as a dexter arm erect, with the elbow slightly bent to dexter; sometimes this is explicitly blazoned as “embowed”.  An “arm fesswise embowed” has its fist to dexter, the elbow to base.  A “cubit arm” is an arm cut off below the elbow; it’s erect by default, and again the fist is clenched.

Arms are frequently found armored or vested (clothed), which facts are always blazoned.  In period blazon, an “arm proper” was assumed to be Caucasian (pink or white) unless otherwise specified; Society blazon had once followed this, but is now more inclusive.  Arms proper now follow the same Society blazon conventions as full humans proper, as described under human figure.

For related charges, see hand.  See also maunch, triskelion.

Wilhelm von Armfelt bears:  Per chevron vert and gules, a dexter arm fesswise embowed erased at the shoulder, fist clenched, armed argent.

Sine ni Chlurain bears:  Vert, a pair of cubit arms issuant in chevron and crossed at the wrists argent.

Gregory Blount bears:  Azure, two arms in armor counter-embowed and interlaced Or.