Embowed is a term in heraldry and architecture which means -

• curved like a bow (when applied to fish, animals or heraldic charges)
• bent (when applied to the human arm or leg), or
• having an arch or arches.

Examples

The heraldic examples illustrated show the pile embowed inverted throughout azure of the Coat of arms of Western Cape Province, the arm in armour embowed of the crest of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, the three Dolphins naiant embowed of the arms of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and the three legs embowed conjoined in the fesse points in armour proper spurred and garnished or of the Triskelion on the Flag of the Isle of Man.

References

• Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry: An Authoritative Guide to the Terminology of Heraldry by Arthur Francis Pimbley (1908)
• Chambers 20th Century Dictionary ed. E. M. Kirkpatrick (W. & R. Chambers Ltd, Edinburgh, new edition, 1983)
• Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry online - E - accessed 17 July 2007