LABEL, LAMBED, or FTLE, in heraldry, the mark of cadency which distinguishes the eldest son iu his father's lifetime; familiar to its from its entering into the composition of the.arms of the prince of Wales and other members of the royal family. It consists of a horizontal stripe or fillet, with three points depending from it. When the mark of cadency itself is designated a file, its points are called labels. It is said that the eldest son's eldest son should wear a label of live points in his grandfather's lifetime, and, similarly, the great-grandson a label of seven points, two points being added for each generation. The label extended originally quite across the shield, and sometimes occupied the upper, though now it is always placed in the lower part of the chief: the points, at first rectangular, assumed in later times the form called pattie, dovetailed, or wedge-shaped; and more recently, the label ceased to be connected with the edges of the shield. Edward I., in his father's lifetime, bore the arms of England within a label not of three, but of five points azure, joined to the head of the shield, and interlaced with the tail of the uppermost lion; Edward II.. when prince of Wales, used indifferently
the label of three or of five points, as also (lid Edward III.; but from the time of the Black Prince downwards, the eldest son of the king of England has invariably differ enced his arms with is label of three points argent, and the practice has been for the younger sons also to bear labels, which are sometimes of other colors and more points. and differenced by being charged with fleurs-de-lis, castles, torteaux, hearts. crosses, etc. as directed by the sovereign by sign-manual registered in the college of arms. The practice of differencing by the label which is thus in riridi obserrantia in our own and other royal families, is less used by subjects. Like other marks of cadency, labels are sometimes borne as permanent distinctions by a particular branch of a family.