martlet

[ mahrt-lit ]

noun

1. British Dialect. a house martin.
2. Heraldry. a representation of a swallow close and without legs, used especially as the cadency mark of a fourth son.

martlet

/ ˈmɑːtlɪt /

noun

1. an archaic name for a martin
2. heraldry a footless bird often found in coats of arms, standing for either a martin or a swallow

Word History and Origins

Origin of martlet¹

1530–40; < Middle French martelet, variant of martinet; martin, -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of martlet¹

C16: from French martelet, variant of martinet, diminutive of martin

Example Sentences

“Women need to outperform significantly in order to have the same asset levels as men who perform worse,” said Buchan, who now runs her own fund, Martlet Asset Management.

From Reuters

Andrew Harcla, the march-warden, whom Edward II. made an earl and executed as a traitor, bore the arms of St George with a martlet sable in the quarter.

From Project Gutenberg

Commoner than the eagle as a charge is the martlet, a humbler bird which is never found as the sole charge of a shield.

From Project Gutenberg

The martlet indicates both swallow and martin, and in the arms of the Cornish Arundels the martlets must stand for “hirundels” or swallows.

From Project Gutenberg

The younger sons of the eldest house to give these differences instead of the crescent, mullet, martlet, etc.:

From Project Gutenberg