heraldry

[ her-uh l-dree ]

/ ˈhɛr əl dri /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR heraldry ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural her·ald·ries.

the science of armorial bearings.

the art of blazoning armorial bearings, of settling the rights of persons to bear arms or to use certain bearings, of tracing and recording genealogies, of recording honors, and of deciding questions of precedence.

the office or duty of a herald.

a heraldic device, or a collection of such devices.

a coat of arms; armorial bearings.

heraldic symbolism.

heraldic pomp or ceremony: The coronation was marked by all the magnificence of heraldry.

Nearby words

Origin of heraldry

1350–1400; Middle English. See herald, -ry

Related formsher·ald·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for heraldry

Various stitches and methods specially lend themselves to the expression of heraldry.
Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving|Grace Christie
Those on the west (left) were deprived of their heraldry and portraits in 1785.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry|Frederic W. Woodhouse
The first law of heraldry was to wear the heart upon the sleeve.
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920|Various
The insect which is most usually met with in heraldry is undoubtedly the Bee.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry|Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

Seals are held in the highest estimation as reliable contemporary authorities in English heraldry, costume, armour, etc.
A Handbook of Pictorial History|Henry W. Donald

British Dictionary definitions for heraldry

heraldry

/ (ˈhɛrəldrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

the occupation or study concerned with the classification of armorial bearings, the allocation of rights to bear arms, the tracing of genealogies, etc

the duties and pursuit of a herald

armorial bearings, insignia, devices, etc

heraldic symbols or symbolism

the show and ceremony of heraldry

Derived Formsheraldist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for heraldry

heraldry

"art of arms and armorial bearings," late 14c., heraldy, from Old French hiraudie "heralds collectively," from hiraut (see herald (n.)). The spelling with -r- is attested from 1570s (cf. poetry, pedantry).

heraldry

noun, plural her·ald·ries.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of heraldry

Examples from the Web for heraldry

British Dictionary definitions for heraldry

heraldry

noun plural -ries

Word Origin and History for heraldry

heraldry