saltire

[ sal-teer, -tahyuhr, sawl- ]

noun

, Heraldry.

1. an ordinary in the form of a cross with arms running diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base and from the sinister chief to the dexter base; St. Andrew's cross.

saltire

/ ˈsɔːlˌtaɪə /

noun

1. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal cross on a shield

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltire¹

1350–1400; Middle English sawtire < Middle French sautoir crossed jumping bar < Medieval Latin saltātōrium something pertaining to jumping; saltant, -tory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltire¹

C14 sawturoure, from Old French sauteour cross-shaped barricade, from saulter to jump, from Latin saltāre

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in saltire, (of charges) arranged in the form of a saltire.
2. per saltire, diagonally in both directions:

   party per saltire.

Example Sentences

Despite the short list of names to go from Scotland to America's most popular sport, the saltire has been flown at the Super Bowl.

From BBC

The ring has a rectangular bezel which is decorated with a central raised panel design with two cross saltires formed from two inside lines and a transverse line forming an open V shape.

From BBC

Despite logistical, financial and moral concerns, saltires and kilts have been spotted at the Fifa tournament.

From BBC

The Scottish government has stopped using an inverted saltire on its Covid briefing backdrop because it is similar to the Russian naval flag.

From BBC

Instead, as she did at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, she’d represent the saltire of Scotland — a nation with its own legal system and church.

From Seattle Times