blazon

Etymology

Old French blason (“shield”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbleɪzən/
• Rhymes: -eɪzən

Noun

blazon (plural blazons)

1. (heraldry) A verbal or written description of a coat of arms.
   • 1894, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry:

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

2. (heraldry) A formalized language for describing a coat of arms.
   • 1997, Gerard J. Brault, Early Blazon:

     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. (heraldry) A coat of arms or a banner depicting a coat of arms.
   • Sir Walter Scott

     Their blazon o'er his towers displayed.

4. Ostentatious display, verbal or otherwise; publication; description; record.
   • Collier

     Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company.

   • Shakespeare

     Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, / Do give thee fivefold blazon.

Verb

blazon (third-person singular simple present blazons, present participle blazoning, simple past and past participle blazoned)

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

     the coat of arms, which I am not herald enough to blazon into English

   • 1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry

     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.
   • Shakespeare, w:Cymbeline, Act VI-III:

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

   • Trumbull

     There pride sits blazoned on th' unmeaning brow.

   • Cowper

     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.
   • Garth

     She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form.

Anagrams

• nazbol

Noun

blazon

1. accusative singular of blazo