Carbuncle (heraldry)

A carbuncle or escarbuncle is a heraldic

though in heraldry the jewel need not be red.

It has its origins in the iron bands and bosses historically used to strengthen shields.^[2] The name may therefore be derived from the Old French boucle, meaning a shield boss.

Gallery

• 
  Arms of Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex and Gloucester: Quarterly Or and gules, an escarbuncle sable.
• 
  Arms of the town of Louvil in France: Gules, an escarbuncle Or pierced vert.
• 
  Arms of the Duke of

  Cleves

  in Germany: Gules, an escutcheon argent surmounted by an escarbuncle Or.

References