The field, or background, of an escutcheon may be of two or more tinctures, divided by one or more partition lines. If one of the divisions is also quartered, the original division is called a grand quarter. A field strewed with an indefinite number of small charges so as to produce a pattern is said to be sem of that charge. Fretty describes a field covered with an open network of diagonal interlaced ribbons. Honorable Ordinaries are simple geometrical figures delineated by straight lines or by partition lines of irregular forms.
Various crosses are important honorable ordinaries.
The irregular partition lines have specific patterns, known as engrailed, invected, wavy or undy, nebuly, indented, dancetty, raguly, dovetailed, embattled or cren l , and potented. Subordinaries consists of the bordure, or border of the shield, is often considered as an honorable ordinary. It consists of a band encircling the shield and often bears small charges. The orle is a narrower border that does not touch the edges of the shield. The quarter consists of the dexter chief quarter of the shield.