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# Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cottice – Cowed)

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Last modified: 2026-05-08 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- COTTICE(S) (COTISE(S) or COST)
- COTTICED (COTISED or COTIZED)
- COTTICES (or COTISES)
- COUCHANT
- COUNTER-
- COUNTER-COMPONY
- COUNTER-EMBATTLED
- COUNTERCHANGED (or COUNTER-CHANGED)
- COUNTERCHANGED CROSS
- COUNTY ARMS
- COUNTY FLAG
- COUPEAU (or COUPEAUX)
- COUPEAU OF THREE (or COUPEAUX OF TWO, FOUR, FIVE or SIX)
- COUPED (or COUPÉE)
- COURANT (CURRENT or CURSANT)
- COURTESY FLAG
- COVERING
- COWARD/COUARD
- COWED

COTTICE(S) (COTISE(S) or COST)
  A heraldic term for a narrow band, stripe or bendlet (or two or more) on either side of a charge, but separated from it by a narrow strip (or strips) of field – usually only applied to a bend, but sometimes also to fess, pale, and chevron.
  See also "cotticed 1)" below.

COTTICED (COTISED or COTIZED)
  1) On flags, a term that may be used to describe the addition of one or more narrow stripes or bands to an existing charge (such as a stripe or cross) but which is separated from that charge by a strip of field – but see note below.
  2) The alternative heraldic terms used when one (or two or more) narrow band(s), stripe(s) or bendlet(s) appear on either side of a charge, but separated from it by a narrow strip of field – cotised or cotized – see "cottice(s)" above plus notes b) and c) below.

  Flag of Bělá u Jevíčka, Czechia; Navy Flag c1920, Ukraine; Flag of Koblenzer Rowing Club, Germany

  Notes
  a) With regard to 1), where the field is not shown between the charge and the cottice (as illustrated below) it should be described as double or triple fimbriated as appropriate (see also fimbriation 1)).
  b) Regarding 2), these terms are usually only applied to a bend, but sometimes also to a fess, pale or chevron, and in addition
  c) have a rather more restricted/complex use than has been briefly described above, it is therefore suggested that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry should be consulted for further details.

COTTICES (or COTISES)
  The alternative heraldic terms used to describe two or more narrow bands or stripes on either side of a charge as for cost – usually only applied to a bend but also sometimes to other charges (see "cottice(s)" above).

COUCHANT
  The heraldic term used when an animal (most often – but not invariably – a lion) is depicted as lying down, with its head generally facing towards the dexter – but see sejant and the note below (also heraldic beasts).

  Flag of Rødøy, Norway; Flag of Uhersý Brod, Czechia; Flag of Pedrógão Pequeno, Portugal

  Please note that the visual difference between sejant and couchant is often difficult to determine, and we suggest that the official blazon be followed in each individual case.

COUNTER-
  The heraldic prefix used when two charges on a shield, banner of arms or flag are turned in contrary directions as fleuri-counterfleuri or counter-passant as illustrated below (see double-tressure fleury counter fleury), or when two tinctures are reversed either side of a line or lines drawn through a coat of arms see counterchanged (also counterchanged cross and counter-compony).

  Flag of Trey, Switzerland; Flag of Aberdeen, Scotland; Flag of Weesen, Switzerland

COUNTER-COMPONY
  An abbreviation of the heraldic term compony counter-compony used when an ordinary or border is composed of two rows of squares (or occasionally rectangles) in alternating tinctures – see "counter-" above and compony (also checky 1), checky 2), "counterchanged" [below], ordinary).

  Flags of Olsberg and Niederwil, Switzerland

COUNTER-EMBATTLED
  In heraldry the phrase used when a charge has staggered crenelations on opposite sides – embattled-counter-embattled – but see embattled bretessé (also embattled, embattled fourché, charged).

  Flag of Rheinisch-Bergisch County, Germany; Flag of Leverkusen, Germany; Flag of Wankendorf, Germany

COUNTERCHANGED (or COUNTER-CHANGED)
  (adj) A heraldic term used to describe two colours alternating either side of a line or lines drawn through a flag or coat of arms or charge – counter-changed or parti-coloured (see also coat of arms 2) counter-, counterchanged cross, counter-compony above and faceted).

  Flag of Greenland; Flag of Trey, Switzerland; Flag of Tas-Sliema, Malta

COUNTERCHANGED CROSS
  In heraldry see cross counterchanged.

  Putative Banner of the Dominicans

COUNTY ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)
  See civic arms 2).

  Arms of the County of Kent, UK; Arms of the County of Somerset, UK

COUNTY FLAG
  See sub-national flag (also civic flag 2)).

  Flag of Wayne County, Michigan, US; Flag of the County of Essex, UK

COUPEAU (or COUPEAUX)
  The alternative French heraldic terms for the base of a shield, banner of arms or a flag that is composed of semi-circular mounds, and is intended to represent (usually) three (but up to ten) hills – a coupeau of two, three, four, five, six or ten, a mount of coupeau, doublemount or threemount – see compartment (also mount).

  Flag of Obstalden, Switzerland; Flag of Zemun 2009–13, Serbia; Flag of Ludbreg, Croatia

COUPEAU OF THREE (or COUPEAUX OF TWO, FOUR, FIVE, SIX or TEN)
  See coupeau above.

  Flag of Oberrohrdorf, Switzerland; Flag of Villarbeney, Switzerland; Flag of Courtételle, Switzerland

COUPED (or COUPÉE)
  1) The heraldic terms used when a charge is cut off in a straight line as is often the case with the heads and limbs of animals but see 2) below (also erased).
  2) Heraldic terms that are also used when an ordinary or charge does not extend to the edges of a shield or banner of arms, for example a cross-couped or cross coupée.

  Unofficial Flag of Northern Ireland; Flag of Andwil, Switzerland; Flag of the ICRC

COURANT (CURRENT or CURSANT)
  Alternative heraldic terms used to describe an animal running at full speed – current or cursant.

  Flag of Pinelo, Portugal; Arms of Caçarelhos e Angueira, Portugal; Flag of Požega-Slavonia, Croatia

COURTESY FLAG
  That flag (normally, but not exclusively, the national flag of the country being visited) flown from a prominent position on a merchant vessel as a matter of courtesy when visiting a foreign port – a complimentary flag (see also yardarm).

COVERING
  1) The term used when a canton, charge or emblem obscures the entire width of a stripe or stripes on a multi-striped flag, and in the case of a canton usually (but not invariably) at the hoist – encroaching upon (see also canton 2), multi-stripe, overall 1), partially covering).
  2) A term that is also used when an emblem or charge occupies the entire width within a stripe (see also width 2)).

  National Flag of Togo; Flag of Teror, Spain; Flag of Goiás, Brazil

  Notes
  a) An example of 1) would be a square or rectangular canton covering the first three stripes, as illustrated above, also:
  b) Under these circumstances the term is never used alone but always with the number of stripes being covered.

COWARD/COUARD
  The heraldic terms used when an animal is shown with its tail between the hind legs – couard – but see the note below (also double queued and queued).

  Flag of Leuk, Switzerland; Flag and Arms of Paršovice, Czechia; Flag of Turtmann-Unterems, Switzerland

  Please note that in English heraldry the display of an animal (particularly a lion) with its tail between its legs can be a symbol of cowardice or dishonour – see abatements.

  Lion coward/couard denoting cowardice or dishonour (Wikipedia)

COWED
  An alternative heraldic tern to queued.

  Flag of Schleiden, Germany

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