Home › Glossary › Letter C

Chapeau

Heraldic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

In heraldry, a chapeau is a ceremonial cap of dignity, often depicted as a red velvet hat lined with ermine, symbolizing rank or nobility.

Detailed Definition
Chapeau symbolizes authority and jurisdiction, often linked to ecclesiastical or noble power. Literary references emphasize solemnity and office.
Example
Example in poetry:
The chapeau of estate, crimson and lined with ermine, crowned the poet’s muse; “Wearing a chapeau of wit,” the satire praised the clever courtier; Beneath the chapeau, the thinker’s brow bore the weight of wisdom; The chapeau, turned up with gold, became a nest for the phoenix of rebirth.
Additional Notes
Chapeau (or cap of maintenance) is a ceremonial cap of crimson velvet lined with ermine, granted as a mark of special honor; it appears below the helm in full achievements; in verse, it signifies royal favor or high status; unlike ducal coronets, the chapeau is not a crown but a privilege of rank, often associated with barons or knights banneret.
Also Known As
Cap of maintenance Cap of dignity
Skip to main content