MOTTO (an

See also:

• ITALIAN

Italian word, from

See also:

• LATE

Late

See also:

• LAT

Lat. muttum, a

See also:

• LOW, SETH (1850- )
• LOW, WILL HICOK (1853- )

low

See also:

• SOUND
• SOUND, THE (Danish Oresund)

sound, a mutter or murmur, cf. mutere, to mutter; the Latin word also gives Fr. mot, word)  , a " legend " consisting of a significant phrase or sentence, sometimes even of a single word attached to an emblem or device, and, in heraldry, placed on a scroll below the achievement or above the crest . Mottoes express sometimes a sentiment, a favourite principle, emphasize the meaning or symbolism of the emblem or device, and, in heraldry, often allude to one or more of the " charges " in the coat of arms, &c . There are many publications which give lists of some of the best-known mottoes, such as Fairbairn, Book of Family Crests, 1856; Wachbourne, Book of Family Crests (2 vols., 1882) ; Chassant and Tansin, Dictionnaire des devises historiques et heraldiques, (1878); Dielitz, Die Wahl- and Denkspriiche, Feldgeschreie, Losungen, Schlachtund Volksrufe, besonders des Mittelalters and der Neuzeit (4 vols., 1888) . Gatfield's Guide to Printed Books and MSS. relating to Heraldry (1892) contains a bibliography .