king-of-arms

noun

One of the three chief heralds of the College of Arms, designated as Garter (Principal King of Arms), Clarenceux (for England south of the Trent and Wales), and Norroy & Ulster (for England north of the Trent and Northern Ireland).

OriginMiddle English King of armes →
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Meanings

nounking-of-arms (plural kings-of-arms)

plural kings-of-arms · alternative king of arms

  1. One of the three chief heralds of the College of Arms, designated as Garter (Principal King of Arms), Clarenceux (for England south of the Trent and Wales), and Norroy & Ulster (for England north of the Trent and Northern Ireland).

    In April 1504 the longstanding Garter king-of-arms John Writhe died.

    2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 188

Origin

  1. Middle EnglishKing of armes
  2. Englishking-of-arms

From Middle English King of armes, kyng of armes.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Swedish vapenkung
  • vapenkungone of the three chief heralds of the College of Arms
Cite this entry
APA

king-of-arms. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/king-of-arms

MLA

“king-of-arms.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/king-of-arms. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “king-of-arms,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/king-of-arms.

Source: king-of-arms on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.