In heraldry a fret is a charge consisting of two narrow bendlets placed in saltire, and interlaced with a mascle. It was supposed to represent the meshes of a fishing-net. Being borne by the family of Harrington it is also sometimes called a Harrington's knot; and riddle-makers have also seen a connection between the Herring-town and the net. Whatever may be the origin, the term fret, or rather frette, occurs frequently in the ancient rolls, but in many cases probably only a single fret is intended. When two or more
frets are borne in the same arms they must be couped, unless each occupies an entire quarter. Research Fret
Abbreviations
Research Fret
