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Explanation: Entirely guesswork, based on use of the same word ("supporter") for the heraldic figures holding the shield on a coat of arms, e.g. a unicorn, a lion, an emu, a wildman, an ostrich, an elephant, a Maori warrior.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2011-10-13 20:26:51 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Well, I've learnt something (yet again): Googling the definition Asker gave, I found that the French for "supporter" in the heraldic sense, is tenant. That at least suggests that the notions are the same. Whether the same word actually IS used in English is another matter.
Thank you! For anyone who reads this entry in the future: You should note that "supporter" corresponds to "tenant" as used in heraldry (whether appearing as a decorative architectural element or not). It has not been verified whether a "tenant" can also be used to describe a decorative architectural support such as an atlas, caryatid or telamon. (As for the poem, I ended up using a less concrete term, since the meaning was allegorical anyway.) 3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Interesting: According to this website on heraldry, if they are animals they are called "supports" in French and if they are humans they are called "tenants".
Assez tôt, lorsque leurs armoiries étaient peintes sur parchemin, les chevaliers prirent l’habitude d’ajouter des devises, généralement sur un listel placé en dessous ou au-dessus de l’écu. À la fin du 15e siècle, des animaux nommés supports, ou des personnes nommées tenants, apparurent de chaque coté des armoiries de certains nobles. Sous leurs pieds, une terrasse leur servait d’appui et offrait un endroit où placer un certain nombre de figures pour lesquelles on manquait d’espace ailleurs dans les armoiries. Dans certains pays, on accordait des supports et tenants à la haute noblesse ou à des personnes jouissant d’un statut particulier. En France, on les accordait parfois à de simples écuyers. Au Canada, ils sont maintenant une marque de mérite.
I think that the author of the poem may have intended for the term "tenant" to have multiple meanings...
I'm sorry about the lack of context. This actually appears in a poem I'm translating. The poem is in a private letter that my client received, so I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want me to share it. There are several architectural references in the poem, specifically to palaces, however they are all allegorical and are therefore a bit difficult to translate. In any case, I have found a solution. Although the author may have meant something as specific as "caryatid", "atlas" or "telamon", there are specific equivalent terms for those in French so I am hesitant to use them.
Supporter is a heraldic term which may cross over into architectural decoration if what is depicted is heraldic. Another term to consider, dependent on the context, is 'caryatid' where a figure supports architectural elements - architrave, cornice, in place of a column or pillar. We would need more information before deciding which would be more correct in your circumstances. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caryatid
Well, it's a shame that you won't provide any context. Bourth hasn't given any references, and he's been honest enough to classify his answer as a guess.
It appears that "Bourth"'s suggestion of "supporter" is correct. If no one suggests anything better in the next 24 hours I will select his/her answer as the correct one.
So are you translating the definition that you've given, or something else?
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Answers
19 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
supporter
Explanation: Entirely guesswork, based on use of the same word ("supporter") for the heraldic figures holding the shield on a coat of arms, e.g. a unicorn, a lion, an emu, a wildman, an ostrich, an elephant, a Maori warrior.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2011-10-13 20:26:51 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Well, I've learnt something (yet again): Googling the definition Asker gave, I found that the French for "supporter" in the heraldic sense, is tenant. That at least suggests that the notions are the same. Whether the same word actually IS used in English is another matter.
xxxBourth Local time: 18:03 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 535
Grading comment
Thank you! For anyone who reads this entry in the future: You should note that "supporter" corresponds to "tenant" as used in heraldry (whether appearing as a decorative architectural element or not). It has not been verified whether a "tenant" can also be used to describe a decorative architectural support such as an atlas, caryatid or telamon. (As for the poem, I ended up using a less concrete term, since the meaning was allegorical anyway.)
The translation workplace 
