Coˊmet [in Heraldry]

as Guillim says, is not of an orbicular form as other celestial natures are; but protracts its light at length like a beard, or rather dilates it in length like an hairy bush, and thence grows taper-wise like the tail of a fox. That it contracts its matter or substance from a slimy exhalation, and was not originally in the creation; nor is number’d among natural things, mentioned in the history of Genesis; but is something preternatural, and is placed with hevenly bodies, becuase they seem to be of their kind. Many are of opinion, that they prognosticate dreadful and horrible events of things to come; but others hold that they are as much stars as any other, and only draw nearer to us at the time they appear, and do not forbode any accidents whatsoever. The figure annexed is azure, a comet, or blazing-star streaming in bend Or.