blazon

plural blazons

1. countableuncountablegovernmentA verbal or written description of a coat of arms.

   ...it should never be forgotten that the best blazon is that which is the most perspicuous

   1894, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry

2. countableuncountablegovernmentA formalized language for describing a coat of arms.

   We must banish, therefore, the persistent but wholly erroneous notion that the heralds invented many of the terms used in blazon and borrowed the rest from the everyday lexicon of terms...

   1997, Gerard J. Brault, Early Blazon

   1 more example

   The official blazon of the arms of Perth is "Gules, a Holy Lambe passant regardant staff and cross argent, with the banner of St. Andrew proper, all within a double tressure counter-flowered of the second": […].

   1956 July, Col. H. C. B. Rogers, “Railway Heraldry”, in Railway Magazine, page 480

3. countableuncountablegovernmentA coat of arms or a banner depicting a coat of arms.

   He wears their motto on his blade, / Their blazon o'er his towers displayed; [...]

   1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto Fifth. The Court.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, stanza XV, page 264

4. countableuncountableOstentatious display, verbal or otherwise; publication; description; record.

   Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company.

   1709, Jeremy Collier, Essays upon several moral subjects

   1 more example

   Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, / Do give thee five-fold blazon.

   c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]

present singular third person blazons · participle present blazoning · participle past blazoned · past blazoned

1. transitiveTo describe a coat of arms.

   the following coat of arms, which I will send you in the original language, not being herald enough to blazon it in English

   10 July 1713, Joseph Addison, The Guardian, No. 104

   1 more example

   After Blazoning the Shield, you proceed to the exterior ornaments viz.: The Helmet, Lambrequin, Crest, Supporters, Badge, and Motto

   1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry

2. To make widely or generally known, to proclaim.

   18th century, William Cowper, Retirement In drawing pictures of forbidden joys, Retires to blazon his own worthless name

   2 more examples

   O thou goddess/ thou divine Nature, how thyself thou blazon'st/ in these two princely boys.

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act VI, scene iii]

   There pride sits blazoned on th' unmeaning brow.

   1774, John Trumbull, An Elegy on the Times

   Synonyms: blaze

3. To display conspicuously or publicly.
4. To shine; to be conspicuous.
5. To deck; to embellish; to adorn.

   She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form.

   1699, Samuel Garth, The Dispensary