A shield begins first with its base material. Generally gold or silver. It is not uncommon today for gold paint to be used. These two colors are represented by yellow and white. The terms for gold and silver came from French words--or (gold) and argent (silver). After these base colors we have five other colors: gules (red), azure (blue), sable (black), vert (green), and purpure (purple).

Next are the objects which can be of any color, but still subject to some rules. Then the furs, which are mainly: ermine, and vair with certain variations on each. Next, come the charges, then other miscellaneous objects.

Dexter is the left-hand side of a shield, unless you are carrying the shield, and then it is the right-hand side. Chief is an ordinary (bars, bands, stipes, etc.) covering the top third of the shield. Canton is as section of the shield usually within the dexter chief. Sinister means left & would be the left-hand side as you are carrying the shield or the right-hand side as you look at it. Flank is the right or left side of anything. Base is the bottom part of the shield. Honor point is a point virtually in the center of the chief point and center point. Navel point is a point virtually in the center of the base point and sinister point. Fesse is a wide horizontal stripe going across the center of the shield. Pole is a vertical stripe going top to bottom in the center of the shield and Tierce is a third.