What does monture mean?
Monture is an uncommon noun denoting a mound or hill, with a specialized heraldic use for a hillock represented on a shield. In general writing, it has an archaic or historical character and is much less usual than mound, hill, or hillock. The word can lend a distinctive, elevated tone to descriptions of landscape, while in heraldry it names a specific visual convention used to indicate rising ground. Because the term survives mainly in technical and older contexts, readers may not recognize it even when its meaning is straightforward. Its interest lies in this combination: it offers an exact old-fashioned word for a small elevation and preserves a piece of the vocabulary of heraldic description.
A mound or hill, especially a small rise in the ground.
"A low monture marked the crest of the ridge."
Rare and somewhat archaic outside heraldic use.
In heraldry, a hill or hillock depicted on a shield.
"The arms show a monture rising above the base line."
A technical heraldic term.
The plural is used chiefly in historical or heraldic descriptions.
"Each shield bears one or more montures."
A rare heraldic word for the hillocks that can be depicted on a coat of arms.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monture come from?
Monture derives through French from a Latin word meaning a mound or hill. Its English use is especially associated with heraldry, where it refers to a hill or hillock shown on a shield. The word is now rare, while its English relatives mound and mount continue in more familiar senses relating to elevated ground.
How monture is actually used
Monture is rare and chiefly encountered in heraldic or historical contexts. Its everyday use is uncommon, and the word may be obscure to modern readers.
Easily confused with monture
“Monture” means a mound or hill, whereas “moniture” is a heraldic term for a small hill or mound.