Dexter and sinister

Dexter and sinister are terms used in heraldry to refer to specific locations in an escutcheon bearing a coat of arms, and to the other elements of an achievement.

More generally, by ancient tradition, the guest of greatest honour at a banquet sits at the right hand of the host.

[3] As the shield would have been carried with the design facing outwards from the bearer, the bend sinister would slant in the same direction as a sash worn diagonally on the left shoulder.

[citation needed] The Great Seal of the United States features an eagle clutching an olive branch in its dexter talon and arrows in its sinister talon, indicating the nation's intended inclination to peace.

[5][6] The sides of a shield were originally named for the purpose of military training of knights and soldiers long before heraldry came into use early in the 13th century so the only viewpoint that was relevant was the bearer's.

Division of the heraldic escutcheon: dexter to the bearer's right (viewer's left), the position of honour; sinister to the bearer's left (viewer's right).
The different view points of knight and viewer; the heraldic view is that of the knight. Charges on the shield, like this lion rampant, look to the dexter side unless otherwise stated in the blazon - unless reversed for heraldic courtesy , a practice more common in Continental Europe than in Britain
Argent a bend sinister gules . The bend sinister extends upward to the sinister corner, while the bend (i.e. bend dexter) extends upward to the dexter corner of a shield.