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A lymphad or galley is a charge used primarily in
Scottish heraldry. It is a single-masted ship propelled by oars.
In addition to the mast and oars, the lymphad has three flags and a basket. The word comes from the
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
''long fhada'', meaning a long ship or
birlinn. It usually indicates a title associated with islands, such as
Lord of the Isles, specifically those on the west coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides - but is not limited to Scottish arms: prominent examples including the coats of arms of
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
and
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
.
Although the drawing of the lymphad for heraldic design purposes naturally became standardized, there are minor differences. These usually involve the position of the sails and oars and the tincture of the flags. There are other variations as well, such as the tincture of the ship. Additionally, the basket may be afire and a crew may be depicted.
Gallery
File:Arms of Hamilton-Arran.svg, Hamilton arms quartered with the lymphad for the Earldom of Arran
File:Arms of Somerville-MacAlister of Loup and Kennox 2.svg, Somerville-MacAlister of Loup and Kennox
File:Maclean of Duart and Morven arms (2).svg , Maclean of Duart and Morven
File:Arms of MacDonell of Glengarry.svg , MacDonell of Glengarry
File:Captain of Clan Chattan arms.svg Mackintosh of Torcastle and Clan Chattan
File:Duke of Argyll arms.svg , Duke of Argyll
File:Arms of New Zealand.svg , New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
File:Inverness.png , Inverness-shire
Examples
The Captain of
Clan Chattan
field: Or, lymphad: Azure, sail furled, oars shown in saltire over the boat, flags Gules.
Lordship of the Isles
field: Or, lymphad: Sable, sail furled, oars in action, flags Gules.
MacAlister of the Loup
The lymphad is shown on an eagle's breast, Gules, lymphad Sable, sail furled, oars in action, flags Sable.
Macdonald, Lord of the Isles field: Or, lymphad Sable, sail furled, oars in action, flags Gules, with an eagle displayed on the boat.
MacDougall of MacDougall field: Or, lymphad Sable, sail furled, oars in action, flags Gules, with a fire basket fired on top of the mast.
McBain of Kinchyle field: Or, lymphad Azure, sails furled (Argent), oars in saltire, Gules, flags Gules.
Macfie of Colonsay field: Or, lymphad Sable, full sails Argent, no oars, flags Gules.
MacGillivray of Dunmaglass field: Azure, lymphad Or, sails furled, oars in action, flags Gules.
MacIain of Ardnamurchan field: Or, lymphad Sable, sails furled, oars in action, flags Gules.
Mackinnon of Mackinnon field: Or, lymphad Sable, sails furled, oars in saltire, flags Gules.
The Mackintosh field: Or, lymphad Azure, sails furled, oars in saltire (gules), flags Gules.
Maclachlan of Maclachlan field: Or, lymphad Sable, sail furled, no oars, flags Gules.
Maclaren of Maclaren field: Or, lymphad Sable, sail furled, oars in action, flags Sable.
Maclean of Duart field: Or, lymphad Sable, sails furled, oars in saltire, flags Gules.
MacNeil of Barra field: Or, lymphad Sable, sails furled, oars in action, flags Gules.
Cluny Macpherson field: per fesse (divided horizontally) Or and Azure, lymphad Or on the Azure, Azure on the Or (i.e.counterchanged), sails furled, oars in action, flags Gules.
The Captain of Clan Ranald field: Or, lymphad Sable, sail furled, oars in saltire, flags Gules.
Shaw of Rothiemurchus field: Or, lymphad Azure, sail furled, oars in saltire (azure), flags Gules. Despite the English surname, Shaw, the arms have a "Highland", Gaelic appearance.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
for, gd, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, italic=no, Council of the Western Isles, paren=left; ) is the Local government in Scotland, local authority for ''Na h-Eileanan an Iar'' (the Western Isles, also known as the Outer Hebrides), one of the 32 co ...
External links
References
{{Reflist
Scottish heraldry