In the direction of a bend or in a diagonal or transverse manner, especially in heraldry.
From 'bend' (Old English 'bendan', to curve or turn) combined with '-wise' (Old English 'wisan', meaning direction or manner, as in 'likewise' or 'clockwise'). Used primarily in heraldic terminology.
Heraldry had incredibly precise language to describe how shields should be decorated—'bendwise' was the technical term for painting a diagonal stripe, showing how specialized medieval crafts created their own mini-languages.
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