What is the dictionary definition of heraldry?
What is the dictionary definition of heraldry?
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. a coat of arms; armorial bearings.
What language is heraldry?
Heraldry is a highly symbolic and stylised art with a language all its own. Blazon, or heraldic description, is a combination of Norman French (the language used when heraldry became codified), Anglicised Latin and Old English.
What are the rules of heraldry?
Rules of heraldry
- Each coat of arms should be unique.
- The arms should be distinguishable at a distance, so the majority of components should be large, simple and composed of a very few tinctures (colours)
- The main charge (design on the shield) should cover its field (the whole of the space available on the shield)
What are the symbols of coat of arms?
Even the colors can have special meaning in a “family crest” or coat of arms:
| Color | Heraldic Name | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Gold or Yellow | Or | Generosity and elevation of the mind |
| Silver or White | Argent | Peace and sincerity |
| Red | Gules | Warrior or martyr; Military strength and magnanimity |
| Blue | Azure | Truth and loyalty |
What does gallantry mean in English?
English Language Learners Definition of gallantry : very brave behavior : courage. : polite attention shown by a man to a woman. See the full definition for gallantry in the English Language Learners Dictionary. gallantry. noun.
What jousting means?
intransitive verb. 1a : to fight on horseback as a knight or man-at-arms. b : to engage in combat with lances on horseback. 2 : to engage in combat or competition as if in a joust jousting debaters jousting bighorn rams. joust.
What are animals called in heraldry?
The beast most often portrayed in heraldry is the lion. When posed passant guardant (walking and facing the viewer), he is called a léopard in French blazon. Other beasts frequently seen include the wolf, bear, boar, horse, bull or ox, and stag or hart.
What does Blazon mean in English?
1 : to publish widely : proclaim. 2a : to describe (heraldic or armorial bearings) in technical terms. b : to represent (armorial bearings) in drawing or engraving. 3a : display. b : deck, adorn the town was blazoned with flags.
How is heraldry used today?
The obvious national coat of arms on the Royal Standard usually comes to mind first. But on closer inspection, most schools, colleges and universities, cities or towns, military groups or police forces, corporations and even many pubs use coats of arms today as a proud symbol of their heritage and comradeship.
How is heraldry passed down?
They are granted to individuals only. To legally use the arms, a person must be the person to whom the arms were originally granted or a direct male-line descendant (in a legitimate line of descent… That person then has the right to pass down the arms through the legitimate male line of their family.
What does a cross mean on a coat of arms?
Crosses on crests are usually symbolic of some Christian experience or sentiment. Figures such as angels and deities represent dignity, glory and honour.
What is the meaning of the Parker family crest?
The Gaelic form is ‘Pairceir’. Motto: Fideli certa merces, To the faithful there is certain reward. Arms: Ar. betw. two bars sa. charged with three bezants, a lion, passant, gu. in chief as many bucks’ heads, cabossed, of the third. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or, a bear’s head sa. muzzled of the first. View the Heraldry Dictionary for help.
Which is the best definition of heraldry for kids?
Kids Definition of heraldry : the art or science of tracing and recording family history and creating coats of arms
Is there a glossary or bibliography for heraldry?
The following is a detailed discussion of heraldry, with numerous illustrations, covering historical development, basic principles, and the artefacts on which heraldry has survived: On the same site are a Glossary of Heraldic terms and a Bibliography of heraldry. Among the printed guides to heraldry is:
Where can I find more information on heraldry?
The best starting point to find more material on the internet is James P. Wolf’s comprehensive site Heraldry on the Internet. This includes alphabetical listings of web pages with heraldic content, arranged by family name (and also listings of civic and ecclesiastical arms), and also reference information and heraldry software.
