In formal heraldic nomenclature, the tressure is classified as a subordinary, appearing as a thin, diminutive version of the orle. While it can exist as a single track, it is almost exclusively manifested as a double tressure. Its most celebrated configuration is 'flory-counter-flory', wherein eight fleur-de-lis are disposed around the tracks, their heads and tails alternating in direction. This device represents one of the most prestigious augmentations in the heraldic tradition of the British Isles.
Historically, the tressure occupies a unique position in feudal law as a 'royal' augmentation. In the Scottish tradition, it is the 'Royal Tressure,' forming the indispensable frame for the lion rampant in the national arms. Its grant to a subject was a mark of the highest sovereign favor, often signifying a marital alliance with the royal house or exceptional service to the Crown. In English practice, while less common than in the north, it follows similar principles of restricted usage and royal association, functioning as a permanent mark of high-status lineage and dynastic distinction.