In heraldry, a bordure is a border around a shield. It is an addition in the form of a hem, or girdle, encompassing the entire shield, and serving as a difference. Traditionally, the bordure must be about one sixth part of the breadth of the shield. Heraldry is the science and art of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats of arms and badges, as well as the formal ceremonies and laws that regulate the use and inheritance of arms. ... Border stone at Passo San Giacomo between Val Formazza in Italy and Val Bedretto in Switzerland Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, states or subnational administrative divisions. ... Difference is the contrary of equality, in particular of objects. ...

A simple bordure is that which is of the same color or metal throughout, and is the first addition of younger brothers. There are others—componed, countered, ingrailed, indented, and charged—with other pieces, which make different additions for younger brothers, in several degrees. In heraldry, a charge is an image occupying the field on an escutcheon (or shield). ...

This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain. Cyclopaedia; or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...