In
heraldry, a large
triangle or
wedge, normally hanging from the top of the shield, but not quite covering all the width of the top, and pointing towards the bottom, but not touching it. Its exact dimensions vary with what else goes on the shield. It is possible to have two piles, hanging down like
fangs, or even a third one issuing from the base of the
shield between them, so that all that is left visible of the field is a kind of W-shaped area.
Piles may occasionally start from any part of the shield, except that if it is a triangle on the base pointing upward it would normally be described as a division 'per chevron'.
When three piles occur pointing downward, they may all point in parallel, or if described as 'piles in point' the outer two slant so that the three points come close together.