| vair | The skin of the squirrel, much used in the fourteenth century as fur for garments, and frequently mentioned by writers of that period in describing the costly dresses of kings, nobles, and prelates. It is represented in heraldry by a series of small shields placed close together, and alternately white and blue. "No vair or ermine decked his garment." (Sir W. Scott) Counter vair, a fur resembling vair, except in the arrangement of the patches or figures. Origin: F. Vair, from OF. Vair, a, L. Varius various, variegated. See Various, and cf. Menivel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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