fitchy

From French fiché, past participle of ficher (“to fasten”), Old French fichier (“to pierce”). Compare fish.

fitchy (not comparable)

1. (heraldry) Sharpened to a point; pointed.

• Originally, a cross fitchy was one with only its bottom end sharpened (so as to fasten it in the ground), like certain crosses carried by pilgrims; the term fitchy at the foot or fitched at the foot may refer to this, or to a cross where the spike does not replace the bottom limb but issues from the center of it. In some later depictions, all ends are pointed; this may be termed fitchy at all points or fitched at all points, or more usually pointed, urdé, or aiguisé. Compare appointé.

• fitchée, fitchee, fitché, fiché, fichée

• “fitchy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.