coat of arms

IPA/ˌkəʊt əv ˈɑːmz/
IPA/ˌkəʊt əv ˈɑːrmz/

coat of arms — 名詞

1. a richly decorated design in the shape of a shield, used as the official symbol

1.名詞B2
釋義

盾徽；紋章

代表家族或機構的盾形標誌

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.

例句

Indra traced the outline of her family's coat of arms with her finger.

Indra 用手指沿著她家族盾徽的輪廓輕輕描畫。

family coat of arms + personal interaction

The old courthouse still has a stone coat of arms above its main doors.

那座舊法院的正門上方仍然嵌著一面石雕盾徽。

placement: above doors of historic buildings

同義詞
  • 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

❌Our company has a new coat of arms on the website.
✅Our company has a new logo on the website.
💡Coats of arms are tied to families, cities, and historic institutions, not modern commercial companies.
❌I found my coat of arms at a market stall.
✅I found a replica of my family's coat of arms at a market stall.
💡A coat of arms is the design itself, not a physical object you can buy and carry home.

2. in heraldry, the full set of identifying symbols belonging to an individual or f

2.名詞C1
釋義

完整紋章

含盾、頂飾、格言等的全套標誌

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.

例句

Felix learned that a full coat of arms has a crest, helmet, and motto.

Felix 了解到一面完整的紋章包含頂飾、頭盔和格言。

includes: crest, helmet, motto beyond the shield

The duke's coat of arms displays two golden lions standing as supporters.

公爵的完整紋章左右各有一頭金色獅子作為扶持獸。

同義詞
  • 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

❌A coat of arms is just a shield with a picture on it.
✅A full coat of arms includes the shield, crest, helmet, motto, and often supporters.
💡The shield is only the central piece of a larger arrangement.

3. a sleeveless outer garment from the Middle Ages, worn over a knight's armor and

3.名詞C2
釋義

紋章罩衣

中世紀騎士穿於鎧甲外的繡章外衣

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.

例句

Beatriz examined a faded coat of arms that once belonged to a 13th-century knight.

Beatriz 仔細端詳一件褪了色的紋章罩衣，它曾經屬於一位十三世紀的騎士。

examined a medieval garment once worn by a knight

The museum put a silk coat of arms on display, still bright after seven centuries.

博物館展出一件絲質紋章罩衣，歷經七百年依然色澤鮮豔。

同義詞
  • surcoat

    The general term for the outer garment worn over armor; a coat of arms is a specific type of surcoat decorated with heraldic symbols.

  • tabard

    A similar sleeveless garment; in modern times, tabards are still worn by heralds at formal ceremonies.

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.