bend sinister
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That in heraldry, a bend sinister indicates bastardy.
From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2019
Remember that most all slang is of vulgar origin and bears upon its face the bend sinister of vulgarity.
From How to Speak and Write Correctly by Devlin, Joseph
That a market should be held upon the Sabbath in this city, is a "bend sinister" upon its escutcheon.
From The South-West By a Yankee. In Two Volumes. Volume 2 by Ingraham, Jonathon Holt
An ordinary with its ends cut off, borne sinister as a mark of bastardy, and containing one fourth in breadth of the bend sinister; Ð called also bastard bar.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah
To which I could only reply, "Madam, I have never yet discovered the bend sinister on our escutcheon."