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

"When they had finished it all, the knight said to the king-of-arms: "'You have arranged the battle, and you are here on Tirant's behalf.

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

The cynical York, at first, would twit the new king-of-arms, perpetually affirming that “his predecessor was a more able herald than any who lived in this age:” a truth, indeed, acknowledged by Dugdale.

From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Disraeli, Isaac

"The king-of-arms, whose name was Jerusalem, answered: "'My lord, Tirant, I promise you by the office I hold and by the oath I have sworn, to keep everything you tell me secret.'

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

"The king-of-arms answered: "Oh, knight, virtuous young man, beloved by everyone!

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

In 1634 he was appointed historiographer and genealogist of France, and in 1641 juge d’armes of France, an officer corresponding nearly to the Garter king-of-arms in England.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 7 "Horticulture" to "Hudson Bay" by Various