humet

English

Argent, a humet gules.

Etymology

Uncertain. The OED speculates that it might derive from Old French heaumet (whence helmet), a diminutive of heaume (“helm”) supposedly applied to the bar of it; however, compare the early (1600s) use of humet for a slab of stone or tombstone.

Noun

humet (plural humets)

1. (heraldry, rare) A fesse or bar cut off short at each end.
   • 1725, James Coats, A New Dictionary of Heraldry, page 34:

     [...] who take their Name from Hameyde, one of the two and twenty Baronies of that Province; thus D'Or a trois Hameydes de Geules, that is, Or, three Humets Gules, or Bars couped;

   • 1869, Shropshire Arms and Lineages, page 10:

     Sa., on a humet arg., a martlet arg. (or.) Creft : A martlet as in the shield. Confirmed (with 1 quartering) to Hugh Bostock, of Moreton Say, who m. Margaret, daug. of Thomas Lee, of Langley. Harl MS. Boteler.

   • 1894, Henry Gough, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, page 336:

     The Humet is a term sometimes, but seldom, used for a fesse, or bar humetty, i.e. couped at each of the extremities. Or, three humets sable , charged with as many annulets argent—AMBROSE, Lancashire.

Alternative forms

• humette, heumette

Adjective

humet (not comparable)

1. (heraldry) Humetté, couped.

   Synonym: (plural) humets

   • 1804, Alexander Nisbet, A system of heraldry, speculative and practical: with the true art of Blazon ... Illustrated with suitable examples of armorial figures, and achievements of the most considerable surnames and families in Scotland ..., page 47:

     [...] as Morgan in his Blazon of the Arms of Brabant, argent on a fesse humet gules, three leopards' heads or […]

   • 1828, William Berry, Encyclopaedia Heraldica Or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry:

     erm. three bars humets or.

   • 1847, John Burke, Encyclopaedia of Heraldry or general Armory of England, Scotland and Ireland, comprising a registry of all armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time, including the late grants by the college of arms: By John and John Bernard Burke:

     Sa, three bars humet ar.

See also

• hamade

Anagrams

• mute h

Latin

Verb

humet

1. third-person singular present active subjunctive of humō