Home › Glossary › Letter M

Moline

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 cross with arms split into two curved, outward-facing prongs, resembling a millrind or anchor.

Detailed Definition
The cross moline echoes the shape of a millrind, symbolizing strength through industry. In literary usage, it denotes steadfast labor, faith forged by turning effort, or spiritual resilience—connecting chivalric emblem to moral steadfastness.
Example
Example in poetry:
The cross moline, with forked ends like millstones, symbolized eternal motion and service; “Moline thoughts,” the meditation described ideas that grind truth from confusion; The poet saw the moline cross as a compass with arms reaching in all directions; In monastic arms, the cross moline represented labor sanctified by faith; On the shield, the moline charge suggested humility in motion, not rest.
Additional Notes
Moline describes a cross with arms split and curved like a millrind (the iron support of a millstone); it symbolizes industry, sustenance, or spiritual grinding; in poetry, the cross moline blends rustic utility with sacred geometry; it is distinct from “cross crosslet” or “cross flory,” and often appears in ecclesiastical or civic arms.
Also Known As
Millrind Fer-de-moline
Skip to main content