Bar, in Heraldry, a diminutive of the Fess (q.v.), or, according to some heralds, a distinct ordinary, consisting of a horizontal stripe across the shield not exceeding one-fifth of its width. It may be placed in any part of the shield, except absolutely in chief or base, and is hardly ever borne singly—e.g. argent, two bars gules (fig. 1). It has two diminutives, the closet and the barrulet, which are respectively a half and a fourth of its width. When barrulets occur in couples they are called bars-gemels—e.g. argent, two bars-gemels gules (fig. 2).
The occasional use in popular language of 'bar sinister' for baton sinister has arisen from barre being the French equivalent for a bend sinister. See BATON SINISTER.