blazon

Old French blason (“shield”).

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

blazon (countable and uncountable, 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.
   • 1808, Sir Walter Scott, Marmion Canto Fifth

     Their blazon o'er his towers displayed.

4. Ostentatious display, verbal or otherwise; publication; description; record.
   • 1709, Jeremy Collier, Essays upon several moral subjects

     Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company.

   • c. 1601–1602, William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or VVhat You VVill”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene v]:

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

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

1. (transitive) To describe a coat of arms.
   • (Can we date this quote by 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.
   • c. 1611, William Shakespeare, w:Cymbeline, Act VI-III:

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

   • 1774, John Trumbull, An Elegy on the Times

     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.
   • 1699, Samuel Garth, The Dispensary

     She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form.

• emblazon
• device

• nazbol

blazon

1. accusative singular of blazo