pursuivant

American  

[pur-swi-vuhnt] / ˈpɜr swɪ vənt /

noun

1. a heraldic officer of the lowest class, ranking below a herald.

2. an official attendant on heralds.

3. any attendant or follower.

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pursuivant British  

/ ˈpɜːsɪvənt /

noun

1. the lowest rank of heraldic officer

2. history a state or royal messenger

3. history a follower or attendant

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Etymology

Origin of pursuivant

1350–1400; < French poursuivant (present participle of poursuivre to pursue, follow ≪ Latin prōsequī ); replacing Middle English pursevant < Middle French pursivant < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

There were traditional roles with baffling titles such as Bluemantle Pursuivant and Rouge Dragon Pursuivant and a number of men seemed to be entirely dressed in medieval flags.

From BBC • May 6, 2023

Pursuivant McCabe said people would never believe such “outlandish” things, anyway.

From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2018

"We would never allow this as a new coat of arms," said John Petrie, Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms at the college.

From BBC • May 30, 2017

I'm The Funk Pursuivant … till my next balls-up.

From The Guardian • Jun. 23, 2010

How oft do they with golden pineons cleave The flitting skyes, like flying Pursuivant, Against fowle feendes to ayd us militant!

From The Militants Stories of Some Parsons, Soldiers, and Other Fighters in the World by Andrews, Mary Raymond Shipman