or Blazonry, in heraldry, the deciphering the arms of noble families.

The word originally signified the blowing or winding of a horn, and was introduced into heraldry as a term denoting the description of things borne in arms, with their proper significations and intemendments, from an ancient custom the heralds, who were judges, had of winding an horn at jousts and tournaments, when they explained and recorded the achievements of knights.