In heraldry, positioned or arranged in the manner of a fesse; divided horizontally across the shield.
Formed from 'fesse' combined with the Old English suffix '-wise' (meaning 'in the manner of'), creating a technical heraldic directional term.
'Wise' is actually an ancient English suffix still hiding in words like 'likewise' and 'clockwise'—heralds used it to create dozens of directional terms to describe exactly how designs should be oriented on shields.
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