Also brizure. [a. F. brisure fracture, breakage; also used in the heraldic and military senses. See also BRUSURE.]
1. Her. A variation of, or addition to, a coat of arms, marking the relation of a younger branch of the family to the main stock; a difference.
1623. Favine, Theat. Hon., I. i. 11. The plaine Paternall Armes, without any Brisure.
1868. Cussans, Hand-bk. Her., XXIV. 299. The Bordure Compony was formerly employed as a Brisure to indicate illegitimate descent.
2. Fortif. A break in the general direction of a rampart or parapet; spec. of the parapet of the curtain adjacent to a bastion constructed with orillons.
1706. Phillips, Brisure, a Line drawn from four to five Fathom, which is allow’d to the Courtin and Orillon, to make the hollow Tower, or to cover the conceal’d Flanks.
1836. Penny Cycl., V. 439/2.
† 3. Variant of BRUSURE. Obs.
