A coat of arms or armorial bearings is, in European tradition, a colourful
design belonging to a particular person and used by him or her in a wide
variety of ways. Coats of arms have their origins in designs used by
medieval knights to make their armour and shield stand out in battle or
tournaments to enable quick recognition by allies or spectators. The designs
were used to decorate clothing worn over the knight's armour, from which the
term ‘coat of arms’ is derived. Over time, coats of arms were adopted by
other social classes as well as towns and cities. Each coat of arms has a
unique heraldic design. The term ‘herald' stems from German and means army
commander. It relates to the duties of officers of arms. Today, the word
‘heraldry’ is generally associated with the design, display and recording of
coats of arms and badges. A coat of arms usually consists of several basic
elements. Typical is a decorated shield as the main element with a motto
below it, supporters to left and right (e.g. in the form of rampant lions),
and a helmet or crest above. The formal description of a coat of arms is
called a blazon. This describes in correct heraldic manner the design and
colour of all the elements and accessories of a coat of arms, such as the
field (background), shield, supporters (figures either side of the shield),
compartment (design below the shield on which the supporters stand)
crown/coronet, helmet, torse (wreath above the helmet), mantling (protective
helmet covering) and motto. Coats of arms are still used by numerous
institutions and individuals and many are protected as trademarks. England
and Scotland, both of which have a long tradition in the use of coats of
arms, still maintain the medieval “Law of Arms” governing the granting and
regulation of coats of arms.
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