Also 6 Sc. cordelere. [a. F. cordelière the cord of the Franciscans, a similar cord orig. put round the armorial bearings of widows and maidens to mark their devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, and in various transf. senses; f. F. cordelier: see Littré. Now usually written -ère as in Fr.]
1. Her. A knotted cord.
a. 1725. A. Nisbet, Heraldry, IV. 59–60 (Jam.). All the above churchmen, who use and carry the exterior ornament of a hat above their arms, have also a cordeliere (issuing out of the same), which is a cord with two running knots on each side, whereat hang down the foresaid tassels on both sides of the shield.
† 2. ‘Knotted cordwork on embroidery’ (Cotgr.).
1561. Inventories (1815), 133 (Jam.). Upoun the silver cordeleris knottis of gold.
† 3. ‘A black and knotted silk neckerchief’ (Webster). (So F. cordelière in Cotgr.)
