is the art of armory and blazoning; or, the knowledge of what relates to the bearing of arms, and the laws and regulations thereof.

Arms, or Armorics, are marks of dignity and honour, regularly composed of certain figures and colours, given or authorized by sovereigns, and borne in banners, shields, coats, &c. for the distinction of persons, families, and states, and passing by descent to posterity.

They are called arms, in regard they are borne principally on the buckler, cuirass, banners, and other apparatus of war; and coats of arms, coat-armour, &c. because anciently embroidered on a cloak or habit, worn by the ancient knights over their arms, both in war and at tournaments, and still borne by the heralds at arms.

It was a kind of surcoat, reaching only as low as the navel, open at the sides, with short sleeves; sometimes furred with ermine and vair, wherein were applied the armorics of the knight, embroidered with gold and silver, and enamelled with beaten tin, coloured black, green, red, and blue; whence the rule never to apply colour on colour, nor metal on metal.

The coats of arms were frequently open, and diversified with bands and fillets of several colours, alternately placed, as we still see cloths scarletted, watered, &c. Hence they were also called devices or devises; and being divided, or composed of several pieces sewed together, whence the words selle, pale, chevron, bend, cross, falter, lozange, &c. See these articles.

The surcoat being embroidered with gold and silver, was the occasion that those two metals have been since placed in the coats of arms, under their French name of or and argent; and their being coloured black, green, red, and blue, that those different colours have also been introduced in them; therefore,

There are two metals in Heraldry, viz., or and argent; and seven colours, which are, gules, azure, sable, vert, purpure, tenne, and sanguine. See these and all the other terms belonging to heraldry as they occur in the order of the alphabet.