Emmet (heraldry)

The emmet is often understood as a symbol of hard work and of wisdom (but such symbolism is far from universally applicable in heraldry - for example, see also canting arms and the arms of Emmitt below). In his A Display of Heraldrie (1610), John Guillim of the English College of Arms says:

"By the Emmet or Pismire may be signified a Man of great Labour, Wisdom, and Providence in all his Affairs, and of a pregnant and ready Memory."^[1]

The emmet is often shown as tergiant, or with his back to the viewer, as seen from above.

• Massy: argent a bend azure between three emmets sable^[2]
• Emmitt: sable two cross bones saltierwise between four emmets or on a chief engrailed erminois two bulls' heads azure^[3]

• 
  Arms of Ahja, in Estonia
• 
  Arms of Bjärtrå, in Sweden
• 
  Arms of Brekendorf, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
• 
  Arms of Fulleren, in Alsace, France
• 
  Arms of the commune of Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle, France
• 
  Arms of Sewen, France
• 
  Arms of Marwice, Poland
• 
  Arms of Zeschdorf, in Brandenburg, Germany