Orse
/ɔːrs/noun
An obsolete heraldic term for an ornamental border or edging, especially around a shield.
Did you know?Orse survives mainly through heraldic vocabulary, where borders were not merely decorative: they visually defined the protected limits of a coat of arms.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*os-
“Mouth or opening; a proposed deep root connected with the idea of an edge or opening.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ora
“Edge, border, margin, or coast.”
Old French
Old French
orle
“A border, edging, or narrow band.”
Middle English
English
orle
“A border or band, especially in heraldic description.”
16th–17th Century
English
orse
“An established variant spelling used for a heraldic border or edging.”
Modern English
English
orse
“An obsolete or specialized heraldic term for an ornamental border.”