heraldry

/ˈhɛrəldri/

Other forms: heraldries

Heraldry is the study of designs on coats of arms — the official symbols or emblems of royal and noble families — which have appeared on flags and shields throughout history.

Heraldry is the art of designing emblems that are meant to represent families, states, or organizations, as well as the study of the significance behind the designs, including family genealogies. The original function of heraldry was to distinguish troops from each other, making it clear who soldiers were fighting with and against. The ancient root of the word heraldry means "war."

Definitions of heraldry

1. noun

   the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies
   type of:

   enquiry, inquiry, research

   a search for knowledge
2. noun

   emblem indicating the right of a person to bear arms
   types:

   armorial bearing, bearing, charge, heraldic bearing

   heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield

   arms, blazon, blazonry, coat of arms

   the official symbols of a family, state, etc.

   annulet, roundel

   (heraldry) a charge in the shape of a circle

   chevron

   a V-shaped figure or design that can appear inverted, sideways, or combined into a pattern

   fleur-de-lis, fleur-de-lys

   (heraldry) a conventionalized representation of an iris

   ordinary

   (heraldry) any of several conventional figures used on shields

   quartering

   a coat of arms that occupies one quarter of an escutcheon; combining four coats of arms on one shield usually represented intermarriages

   type of:

   emblem, icon

   special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.