BAR SINISTER, a phrase used for a charge in heraldry de noting bastardy; ignorantly used, for heraldry knows nothing of a bar sinister. It is one of the words of Sir Walter Scott, who had many imitators. More cautious writers speak of a bend sinister, a charge as strange to mediaeval English heraldry, which has, in deed, no piece set apart to signify bastard descent, although the later heralds have been wont to mark the bastard' arms with a baton sinister cooped. This charge seems now out of fashion, a wavy border having taken its place.