recursantadj.
/rᵻˈkəːsnt/, U.S. /rəˈkərs(ə)nt/, /riˈkərs(ə)nt/ Heraldry.
Of an eagle: depicted almost fully turned away, with the back and part of the flank visible. Cf. three-quartered adj. at three-quarter n., adj., and adv. Derivatives, trian adj.
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society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic representations of creatures > [adjective] > specific aspects of heraldic beasts
regardantc1460
addorsed1572
guardant1572
inverted1610
despectant1688
recursant1688
respectant1688
suspectant1688
adossé1710
affrontee1718
affrontee1724
tourné1725
spectant1825
three-quarteredc1828
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. xi. 228/1 This term recursant, is taken from the Latin word recurso, to turn backward. Some blazon it, an Eagle invertant.
c1828 W. Berry Encycl. Her. (at cited word) Recursant overture, or inverted and displayed…is said of an eagle, displayed with the back towards your face. Recursant volant, in pale, is said of an eagle as it were flying upwards, showing the back.
1830 T. Robson Brit. Herald III. Gloss. Displayed recursant, or tergiant, the wings crossing each other; sometimes termed backward displayed, the wings crossing.
1894 H. Gough & J. Parker Gloss. Terms Heraldry (new ed.) 215 Argent, an eagle recursant wings overture sable.
1951 M. L. Wolf Dict. Arts 574 Recursant, in heraldry, the term applied to any shield or escutcheon showing the back view of an eagle with the head in profile.
1969 J. Franklyn & J. Tanner Encycl. Dict. Heraldry at Eagle When the [eagle] turns his head and faces sinister he may be blazoned as..‘recursant’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1688