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Pale

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 vertical stripe running down the center of a shield, typically one-third its width.

Detailed Definition
The pale symbolizes military strength and fortitude. Literary uses reflect centrality, endurance, or moral uprightness in character and narrative.
Example
Example in poetry:
The pale gules, vertical and central, stood like a pillar of justice; “Pale of my resolve,” the sonnet declared unwavering principle; The poet saw the lightning bolt as a pale issuant from storm clouds; In the royal arms, the pale divided and united realms in one stroke; Three pales or on azure became rays of divine favor in the devotional shield.
Additional Notes
Pale is a vertical band down the center of the shield, occupying about one-third of the field; it symbolizes military strength or divine uprightness; in poetry, the pale can represent a pillar, a path, or moral rectitude; when multiple pales appear, they are termed “pallets” if narrower, and their number is specified (e.g., “three pallets”).
Also Known As
Pallet (narrower variant not exact alias) Peely-wally White as a sheet blanched
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