Variations of ordinaries

In heraldry, in addition to the variations of the line that can be applied to both ordinaries and the field, there are some variations of ordinaries that can only be applied to them.

The arms of Champagne show cotices "potented and counter potented".

An ordinary which appears to have a circular form in the middle is described as nowy.

An ordinary (often a cross) can be facetted.[1]

The term embowed is almost invariably applied to the chevron; this means that the upper two lines defining the chevron are concave, and the bottom two lines follow in parallel.

When an ordinary is shown higher than what would be its regular position in the field, it is called enhanced. When depicted lower, it is described as debased or abased. These are to distinguished from ordinaries in chief (in the chief of the field) or in base.