Ged (heraldry)

A ged is a heraldic term for the fish known in English as a pike. It is often used in "canting" coats; that is, using coats of arms to make a pun on the last name of the bearer, one of his titles, a nickname, or the name of his estate. The word ged is derived from the Old Norse gaddr (spike). In modern Swedish the word for pike is gädda, In modern Danish the word for pike is gedde and in modern Icelandic, the word is gaddur.