Heralds Invented the Rules of Heraldry
A herald announces news. The office was real, official and still exists, with authority over coats of arms.
A herald is an official messenger, and by extension a sign of what is coming. The office was not decorative: medieval heralds carried messages between armies under protection, identified knights by their arms, and from that need developed the whole system of heraldry. The College of Arms in London still grants coats of arms today.
- An official messenger. *A royal herald.*
- A sign of something coming. *A herald of spring.*
- To announce. *Heralded as a breakthrough.*
- Heraldry — the system of coats of arms. *A study of heraldry.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | herald | The king's herald. |
| Plural | heralds | Two heralds. |
| Verb | herald | Herald a new era. |
| Noun | heraldry | English heraldry. |
| Adjective | heraldic | A heraldic device. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The snowdrop heralds spring.Announces its arrival.
- The College of Arms still grants arms.Founded in 1484.
- Many newspapers are called the Herald.From the messenger sense.
Heraldic terms
- Blazon — the formal written description of arms
- Tinctures — the colours and metals used
- Charge — any figure placed on the shield
- Crest — the device above the helmet, not the whole coat of arms
- Achievement — the full display of shield, crest, helm and motto
From Old French *heraut*, from a Germanic compound meaning army-ruler. The College of Arms was incorporated in 1484.
Is a crest the same as a coat of arms?
No. The crest is only the device above the helmet. The whole display is called an achievement.
Do heralds still exist?
Yes. The College of Arms in England and the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland maintain heraldic authority.