† champain Obs.
Also 6 -ine, -ian.
[cf. F. champagne field, ‘the lower third of the shield’ (Littré).]
1. Her. A broken or deflected line, sometimes on only one side of an ordinary; it is sometimes vairé, sometimes curved or enarched.
| 1562 Leigh Armorie (1579) 71 b, He beareth a point champine, Or, in a fielde Tenne. Who so killeth his prisoner (to him humbly yeelding) with his owne hand rebateth his honor. Ibid. 79 He beareth party per bend Champian, Argent and Geules. Anything set in triangle on this cote, honoureth the same, to a great increase of commendation. 1661 Morgan Sph. Gentry ii. vii. 78 The point Champain was deservedly due to Simeon and Levi, brethren in iniquity, for in their wrath they killed their prisoners. 1688 R. Holme Armoury i. iii. §83 He beareth Argent a Pale Champaine, or enarched on the Dexter side, Vert. 1708 Kersey, A Point Champain (in Heraldry) is a Mark of Dishonour in the Coat of one that kills a Prisoner of War, after he has cry'd Quarter. |
2. Arch. ‘Champain Line, in ornamental carved work formed of excavations, is the line parallel to the continuous line, either ascending or descending’ (Gwilt).