In the rigorous taxonomy of Anglo-Norman armory, the term 'passant' signifies a beast—most commonly a lion—represented in a horizontal, walking attitude. The animal is depicted with its dexter forepaw elevated and three limbs firmly planted upon the ground, while the head remains in profile, looking forward. This posture serves as the intermediate stage between the static 'statant' and the aggressive 'rampant', projecting a sense of dignified progression and controlled authority suitable for the landed aristocracy and sovereign houses of the medieval period.
Historically, the distinction between a lion 'passant' and a 'leopard' was a matter of considerable debate among medieval heralds. In early English practice, any lion shown passant was frequently termed a 'leopard,' a convention particularly evident in the Great Seal of Richard I. By the fourteenth century, however, heraldic nomenclature became further refined, reserving 'leopard' specifically for animals depicted as 'passant guardant' (facing the viewer), while 'passant' became the standard designation for the profile walking position, regardless of the beast's feline or lupine species.