bend sinister
Preserved but no longer current.
A bend running across the shield in the opposite direction, i.e. from right to left. It often is an indication of bastardy (cp. BAR SINISTER); hence the phrase "he has a bend sinister" he was not born in lawful wed- lock.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bend sinister” mean?
A bend running across the shield in the opposite direction, i.e. from right to left. It often is an indication of bastardy (cp. BAR SINISTER); hence the phrase "he has a bend sinister" he was not born in lawful wed- lock.
Is “bend sinister” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.