coat of arms
coat of arms — noun
1. a richly decorated design in the shape of a shield, used as the official symbol
a richly decorated design in the shape of a shield, used as the official symbol of a noble family, a city, a school, or another kind of institution — it often features animals, symbols, and colors that tell the group's story.
Indra traced the outline of her family's coat of arms with her finger.
family coat of arms + personal interaction
The old courthouse still has a stone coat of arms above its main doors.
placement: above doors of historic buildings
Karim's school added a book and a lamp to its coat of arms last year.
Every passport in that country carries the national coat of arms on the cover.
Yan photographed a 500-year-old coat of arms carved into the cathedral wall.
- family crest
Commonly used in casual English for the same idea, though in strict heraldry the crest is only the top part of the full design.
- heraldic shield
A more technical term that emphasizes the shield shape; used in discussions of heraldry.
- armorial bearing
A formal term used in official grants and documents; rare in everyday speech.
文法句型
a coat of arms
the family coat of arms
用法筆記
The plural form is coats of arms, not coat of armss. In everyday speech, people often say family crest when they mean a coat of arms, though a crest is technically just the device sitting on top of the helmet in the full heraldic design.
常見錯誤
2. in heraldry, the full set of identifying symbols belonging to an individual or f
in heraldry, the full set of identifying symbols belonging to an individual or family: the central shield together with the helmet, crest, wreath, motto, and often additional figures called supporters standing on either side.
Felix learned that a full coat of arms has a crest, helmet, and motto.
includes: crest, helmet, motto beyond the shield
The duke's coat of arms displays two golden lions standing as supporters.
Devika spent months painting every detail of her client's complete coat of arms.
A Latin motto appeared on the ribbon below the shield in Obi's coat of arms.
Eric compared his full coat of arms to the simpler badge of the junior branch.
- achievement of arms
The formal heraldic term for the complete display; used by specialists and in official grants.
- heraldic bearings
A collective term for all the elements making up a person's coat of arms.
- armorial achievement
A formal synonym found in heraldic writing and official records.
文法句型
a coat of arms + includes/comprises
用法筆記
This is the technical heraldic meaning. Distinguish from sense 1 (the shield-shaped emblem used more broadly by cities and schools) and sense 3 (the physical garment worn in battle). Specialists sometimes call this an achievement of arms.
常見錯誤
3. a sleeveless outer garment from the Middle Ages, worn over a knight's armor and
a sleeveless outer garment from the Middle Ages, worn over a knight's armor and stitched with the wearer's heraldic symbols so that fighters could identify one another in battle.
Beatriz examined a faded coat of arms that once belonged to a 13th-century knight.
examined a medieval garment once worn by a knight
The museum put a silk coat of arms on display, still bright after seven centuries.
Darius read that medieval knights pulled a coat of arms over their metal armor.
Otis watched a craftsman stitch gold thread onto a replica coat of arms for a film.
文法句型
a coat of arms embroidered with ...
wore a coat of arms
用法筆記
This historical sense refers to the physical cloth garment itself, not to the design. Rare in modern English; found mainly in discussions of medieval armor and tournaments. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2, which refer to the heraldic design rather than the garment.