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Ess vs Fess - What's the difference?

ess | fess |

As an initialism ess

is (electronics).

As a verb fess is

to confess; to admit.

As a noun fess is

(heraldiccharge) a horizontal band across the middle of the shield.

ess

English

Alternative forms

Compounds are normally spelled es : es-hook, es-link.

Noun

(es)
  • Something shaped like the letter S.

    • See also

    *

    Derived terms

    * collar of esses

    Anagrams

    * ----

    fess

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (confess), by shortening

    Verb

    (es)
  • To confess; to admit.
    • Derived terms
    * fess up English clippings

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Alternative forms

    * fesse

    Noun

    (es)
  • (heraldiccharge) A horizontal band across the middle of the shield.
  • * 1892 , Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor’, Norton 2005 p.294:
    • Lord Robert Walsingham de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral—Hum! Arms: Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable.
  • * 2009 , Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall , Fourth Estate 2010, p. 420:
    • The space where the arms of Wolsey used to be is being repainted with his own newly granted arms: azure, on a fess between three lions rampant or, a rose gules, barbed vert, between two Cornish choughs proper .