Blazoned

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Shown or exhibited in a clear and striking way ; decorated with or bearing a coat of arms or other heraldic emblem
2. Made highly visible or announced openly ; marked or identified by heraldic designs on a shield or banner
3. Expressed boldly or made obvious to notice ; adorned with traditional symbols used to indicate family lineage or status

Etymology: "Blazoned" is the past form of "blazon," which in Middle English meant a shield, borrowed from Old French "blason." The verb sense of blazoning, displaying something in bold or showy fashion, grew out of the shield itself: a coat of arms was painted boldly on the shield so it could be recognized at a distance, and the same word came to mean describing those arms in exact terms, and then any ostentatious display. The word's meaning therefore moved from a physical object to an action. Someone who blazons a banner or a name is putting it on show so that everyone can see it, much as a knight's device was meant to be read across a field. The verb keeps that visual, public character, which is why it fits so naturally with banners, headlines and proclamations.

Synonyms: displayed, emblazoned