Home › Glossary › Letter C

Couped

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, "couped" describes a charge cleanly severed at the edge of the shield, without ragged or torn appearance.

Detailed Definition
Couped means the charge is neatly cut without ragged edges, symbolizing precision or decisiveness. Poets may use it to illustrate abruptness or clarity in division or fate.
Example
Example in poetry:
The eagle’s wing, couped at the joint, suggested sacrifice without shame; “Couped but not broken,” the verse praised the martyr’s truncated life; The head of the stag, couped, became a symbol of dignity in death; Couped swords crossed in the field told of battles ended, not lost.
Additional Notes
Couped means cleanly cut off, usually at the neck or limbs, with a straight edge (e.g., "a lion’s head couped"); it differs from "erased," which has a ragged edge; in verse, "couped" suggests precision, sacrifice, or detachment; it is commonly used for heads, wings, or limbs in heraldic shorthand.
Also Known As
Couped (sometimes "cut off" in lay descriptions)
Skip to main content