Abatements, in Heraldry, are marks of disgrace alleged in some heraldic treatises to have been borne by persons who had been guilty of unknighthly conduct. They were never in actual use. For differencing, see HERALDRY, Vol. V. p. 665; BATON-SINISTER.
Abatements
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 1: A to Beaufort, p. 4
Source scan(s): p. 0017