In heraldry, a lure is a falconry device used to call a trained hawk or falcon back to the falconer. It is usually depicted as a pair of feathered wings or padded objects attached to cords, and its symbolism is closely tied to discipline, mastery, nobility, and controlled power. The lure does not represent brute force. Instead, it suggests the skill to guide strength, attract loyalty, and command through training and trust. In a coat of arms, it may point to falconry, aristocratic sport, courtly refinement, and the art of directing swift and dangerous energy.

The lure belongs to the heraldic world of hunting and noble leisure. In medieval and early modern society, falconry was a mark of rank and cultivated status, requiring patience, wealth, land, and specialized knowledge. A lure in arms may therefore suggest high social standing, service in a noble household, gamekeeping, or an inherited connection with hawking grounds and forests. It can also carry a metaphorical meaning: the wise leader draws others by skill and purpose rather than compulsion. When shown with bells, jesses, hawks, falcons, or gloves, the charge becomes unmistakably linked with trained birds of prey.

As a heraldic charge, the lure may appear singly, in pairs, stringed, tasseled, or displayed with cords. It is less common than the hawk or falcon itself, which makes it a distinctive and specialized emblem. Parker’s A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry recognizes the hawk’s lure as a heraldic object, while related hunting symbols can be explored at Heraldry of the World and through the Heraldry Society. In heraldry, the lure remains an elegant symbol of patience, training, command, and noble pursuit.