blazon

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A verbal or written description of a coat of arms.

   “...it should never be forgotten that the best blazon is that which is the most perspicuous”

2. (countable, uncountable)A formalized language for describing a coat of arms.

   “The official blazon of the arms of Perth is "Gules, a Holy Lambe passant regardant staff and cross argent, with the banner of St. Andrew proper, all within a double tressure counter-flowered of the second": […].”

   “We must banish, therefore, the persistent but wholly erroneous notion that the heralds invented many of the terms used in blazon and borrowed the rest from the everyday lexicon of terms...”

3. (countable, uncountable)A coat of arms or a banner depicting a coat of arms.

   “He wears their motto on his blade, / Their blazon o'er his towers displayed; [...]”

4. (countable, uncountable)Ostentatious display, verbal or otherwise; publication; description; record.

   “Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company.”

   “Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, / Do give thee five-fold blazon.”

verb

1. (transitive)To describe a coat of arms.

   “the following coat of arms, which I will send you in the original language, not being herald enough to blazon it in English”

   “After Blazoning the Shield, you proceed to the exterior ornaments viz.: The Helmet, Lambrequin, Crest, Supporters, Badge, and Motto”

2. To make widely or generally known, to proclaim.

   “O thou goddess/ thou divine Nature, how thyself thou blazon'st/ in these two princely boys.”

   “There pride sits blazoned on th' unmeaning brow.”

   “18th century, William Cowper, Retirement In drawing pictures of forbidden joys, Retires to blazon his own worthless name”

3. To display conspicuously or publicly.
4. To shine; to be conspicuous.
5. To deck; to embellish; to adorn.

   “She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form.”