Word Study
Fess
CIDE DICTIONARY
Fess, n. [OF. fesse, faisse, F. fasce, fr. L. fascia band. See Fascia.].
A band drawn horizontally across the center of an escutcheon, and containing in breadth the third part of it; one of the nine honorable ordinaries. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Fess, n. (also fesse) Heraldry a horizontal stripe across the middle of a shield.
Idiom
fess point a point at the centre of a shield. in fess arranged horizontally.
Etymology
ME f. OF f. L fascia band
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