Definition

Noun: 1. The art or system of describing or depicting heraldic coats of arms according to specific rules and conventions. 2. A coat of arms or heraldic device itself; the official, often colorful, symbols representing a family, lineage, corporation, or state. 3. (Archaic/Literary) Brilliant or conspicuous display, often of colors.

Usage

• Blazonry is primarily a formal or technical term used in the context of heraldry (the study of coats of arms and armorial bearings).
• It functions as a non-count noun when referring to the art or practice (e.g., ).
• It can function as a count noun when referring to specific instances or examples of heraldic designs (e.g., ).

Examples

• The book explained the complex blazonry of medieval knights.
• The shield was covered in elaborate blazonry depicting a lion and a tower.
• (Archaic/Literary) The garden was a blazonry of autumn colors.

Advanced Usage

• "To emblazon" is the related verb, meaning to adorn or display a blazon prominently.
  • The family crest was emblazoned on the carriage door.

Variants and Related Words

• Blazon (noun): A more common synonym for a coat of arms or heraldic shield. It can also refer to the formal description of a coat of arms.
• Blazon (verb): To describe or depict (a coat of arms) according to the rules of heraldry; or, to display conspicuously.
• Emblazonry (noun): A less common variant synonymous with , especially in its decorative sense.
• Heraldry (noun): The broader system, art, and study of which blazonry is a part.
• Coat of Arms (noun phrase): A common term for the heraldic design itself.

Synonyms

• (For the heraldic device): Arms, coat of arms, crest, escutcheon, heraldic device.
• (For display): Display, array, show, panoply (especially of splendid array).

Idioms and Phrases

• None specific to "blazonry" as an idiom. However, related heraldic terms appear in idioms like "a coat of many colors" (from the biblical story of Joseph) to describe something showy or multicolored.

Noun

1. the official symbols of a family, state, etc.