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Rampant

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 beast depicted upright on one hind leg with both forelegs raised, symbolizing aggression, readiness, or nobility.

Detailed Definition
Rampant indicates courage, bravery, and nobility. In literary contexts, it portrays spirited action, defiance, or heroic stature.
Example
Example in poetry:
The lion rampant, forepaws raised, defied gravity and fear in the poet’s verse; “Rampant ambition,” the satirical sonnet warned of unchecked pride; The poet described his spirit as rampant—unbowed by circumstance; In the royal arms, the lion rampant declared sovereignty in action; Rampant charges embody energy, ideal for poems of revolution or revelation.
Additional Notes
Rampant is the most aggressive posture for a beast (especially a lion), shown rearing on one hind leg with forelimbs raised; it conveys defiance, power, and readiness to strike; in poetry, rampant animals dominate the shield as emblems of sovereignty or rebellion; note that only certain creatures (lions, griffins) are typically rampant—others use “salient” (both hind legs) or “springing.”
Also Known As
Rearing
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