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Goutte

Heraldic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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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 small droplet-shaped charge symbolizing a drop of liquid, often used decoratively or symbolically on coats of arms.

Detailed Definition
Goutte symbolizes drops of various substances, often water, blood, or oil, representing purity, sacrifice, or anointing. Poets use it to evoke emotional intensity, spiritual cleansing, or loss.
Example
Example in poetry:
Gouttes de larmes, tear-shaped drops, fell across the field in mourning; “Gouttes of blood,” the war poem marked sacrifice in liquid rubies; The poet saw rain as gouttes argent, heaven’s blessing on the land; Gouttes de poix, black drops, symbolized the tar of betrayal in the allegory.
Additional Notes
Goutte (or gutty) describes a droplet-shaped charge, often used in patterns (e.g., "goutty or"); different tinctures have specific names (e.g., goutte-d'eau for blue, goutte-de-sang for red); in poetry, gouttes can symbolize tears, blood, or divine dew; they add texture and emotional nuance to fields.
Also Known As
Drop Goutté
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