horsebit

It is important that a coat of arms be easily recognised and so everyday objects were frequently used as clearly identifiable charges – parts of the horse harness Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 69 being a good example of these, of which the bit is typical. The symbology is likely simply to be related to traits of good horsemanship, but also might sometimes be a play on words with the family name. A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:bit