Her. Obs. [f. COUNTER a. or adv. + -LY.]
A. adj. Of the shield, etc.: Divided into two parts of different tinctures.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, B v a. Dyuerse beryngis of feeldis ther be. Oon is beryng hole felde…. The secunde is bering too feldis, hit is calde in armis Counterli.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 186. The seconde fielde was when as the scutcheon consisteth (as it were) of two fieldes parted equallye either in pale, bend, fesse, chiueron, pile, &c. and of the auncients it was called Counterley.
B. adv. In a way that is counter to another, or in which two parts are counter to each other in colour, order, direction, etc.; counterwise.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry (1611), 18. He beareth Azure a Bordure counter-componed, Or and Gules, which is as much to say as compounded of these two colours counterly placed.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 14/1. He beareth … three pair of Wings, the uppermost and neithermost counterly crossed.
