from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Potent \Po"tent\, n.
1. A prince; a potentate. [Obs.] --Shak.
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2. [See {Potence}.] A staff or crutch. [Obs.]
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3. (Her.) One of the furs; a surface composed of patches
which are supposed to represent crutch heads; they are
always alternately argent and azure, unless otherwise
specially mentioned.
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{Counter potent} (Her.), a fur differing from potent in the
arrangement of the patches.
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