A knot is a complex interlace, usually of rope or twine; there are a great many varieties.  In period heraldry, knots were normally used as badges, but there are some examples of knots used in coats of arms – e.g., the Bourchier knots in the arms of Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1454-86 [DBA3 430] – and they may be so used in Society heraldry.

Of the knots used in the Society, many are taken from medieval heraldry; some are simple knots, described in the blazon rather than given a special name; some are used mundanely in other occupations, such as surgery; and some knots are Society inventions.  The illustrations show each knot in its default orientation.

The knots taken from medieval heraldry include:

• Bohemian love knot
• Bourchier knot
• Bowen knot
• Cavendish knot (or Savoy knot)
• Heneage knot
• Hungerford knot (or Dacre knot)
• Knot of two hearts voided and braced
• Lacy knot
• Stafford knot
• Suffolk knot
• Wake knot (or Ormond knot)

The simple generic knots include:

• Quatrefoil knot
• Trefoil knot
• Knot of four loops and tassels
• Rope looped and with ends crossed

The knots used in occupations include:

• Belt knot
• Hangman’s noose (disallowed)
• Ligature knot (or surgeon’s knot)
• Masthead knot (disallowed)
• Weaver’s knot (disallowed)

Finally, of the Society inventions:

• Donnelly knot (disallowed)
• Fidelis knot (disallowed)
• Mascle knot

Knots must maintain their identifiability when used as charges.  In general, this means they may not be conjoined to form a large knotwork pattern, such as found in Celtic illumination.  So long as they can still be identified, simple knots may be conjoined in small numbers:  v. the arms of Zyganer, 1605 [Siebmacher 73], with three knots conjoined in pall inverted.

For related charges, see cross, fret, Norse beasts, pretzel, serpent, star of David, tassel, tress of hair, triquetra, valknut, yarn.