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BLAZONING

Volume 3 · 73 words · 1815 Edition

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 intendments, from an ancient custom the heralds, who were judges, had of winding a horn at jousts and tournaments, when they explained and recorded the achievements of knights. See HERALDRY.