king-of-arms

American  

[king-uhv-ahrmz] / ˈkɪŋ əvˈɑrmz /

noun

• kings-of-arms
  plural

1. a title of certain of the principal heralds of England and certain other kingdoms empowered by their sovereigns to grant armorial bearings.

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king-of-arms British  

noun

1. the highest rank of heraldic officer, itself divided into the ranks of Garter, Clarenceaux, and Norroy and Ulster. In Scotland the first is Lyon

2. a person holding this rank

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• kings-of-arms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of king-of-arms

First recorded in 1400–50, king-of-arms is from late Middle English king of armes. See king, arm ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

king-of-arms kings-of-arms

In Ireland also there is but one king-of-arms, Ulster.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

That is, it was signed by his hand and sealed with his arms; and he gave it to Jerusalem, the king-of-arms.

From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder

As a reply to these demands, the Regent despatched the lyon king-of-arms to make proclamation that all should "avoid the toune under pane of treasone."

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 10 by John Rudd

Norroy King of Arms, a name given to the third king-of-arms, whose province is on the N. side of the Trent, the one on the S. side being called Clarencieux.

From The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by P. Austin Nuttall

On this occasion, once the king-of-arms gave malicious York “the lie!” reminding the crabbed herald of “his own learning; who, as a scholar, was famous through all the provinces of Christendom.”

From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Isaac Disraeli

When the dinner was half finished, Tirant summoned the kings-of-arms and heralds, and gave them a thousand ducats.

From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder

Early in the morning the kings-of-arms got the two knights and took them to the middle of a forest where no one would be able to see them.

From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder

Next followed the pursuivants, heralds, and provincial kings-of-arms, making like reverences, and ranging themselves with the alms-knights.

From Windsor Castle by William Harrison Ainsworth

While the king was in council, listening to the tale of Claros of Clarence and Jerusalem, the kings-of-arms, the queen arrived with all the ladies and maidens.

From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder

And they commanded the kings-of-arms, heralds, and messengers to announce throughout the city the honor that was bestowed on Tirant that day.

From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder