# blazon
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English blason, blasoun (“shield”), from Old French blason (“shield”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈbleɪzən/
* Audio (Southern England):(file)
* Rhymes: -eɪzən

### Noun

blazon (countable and uncountable, plural blazons)
* (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
* (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...
* (heraldry) A coat of arms or a banner depicting a coat of arms.
** 1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto Fifth. The Court.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, stanza XV, page 264:He wears their motto on his blade, / Their blazon o'er his towers displayed; [...]
* 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 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, / Do give thee five-fold blazon.

#### Derived terms

* blazonment
* blazonry

#### Translations
### Verb

blazon (third-person singular simple present blazons, present participle blazoning, simple past and past participle blazoned)
* (transitive) To describe a coat of arms.
** 10 July 1713, Joseph Addison, The Guardian, No. 104
    the following coat of arms, which I will send you in the original language, not being herald enough to blazon it in 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
* To make widely or generally known, to proclaim.
** 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act VI, scene 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
* To display conspicuously or publicly.
* To shine; to be conspicuous.
* To deck; to embellish; to adorn.
** 1699, Samuel Garth, The Dispensary:She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form.

#### Derived terms

* blazoner
* reblazon

#### Related terms

* blazonable
* blazoned trail
* device
* emblazon

#### Translations
### Anagrams

* nazbol

## Esperanto
### Noun

blazon
* accusative singular of blazo

## Romanian
### Etymology

Borrowed from French blason.

### Noun

blazon n (plural blazoane)
* blazon