Divisions of Charges

For the most part, any charge, including animate charges, can be coloured using any of the field divisions, so long as the rules of contrast are followed and the charge maintains identifiability. In addition, there are a few divisions specific to ordinaries.

Parted

Any ordinary can be divided in the same direction as the ordinary itself lays. In some cases this is a normal line of division (e.g. a bend parted per bend), and sometimes it is unique to that ordinary. Note that a cross so divided between tinctures must be blazoned as quarterly, not parted crosswise, since a cross parted is a specific charge.

Compony

An ordinary divided into segments is blazoned compony. If divided into two rows of segments, it is counter-compony. At three rows, it must blazoned as chequey or lozengy. In the case of bordures, compony must be drawn with enough segments not to be confused with a bordure gyrony.