[f. prec. sb., or directly from F. blasonner (similarly f. F. blason) in use in 15th c. As shewn under BLAZE v.2, that vb. was in earlier use in this sense; and in the 16th c. the two words acted and reacted on each other: cf. 4–6 below, and senses 3–6 of BLAZE v.2 Indeed so far as the evidence goes, the non-heraldic senses are the earlier, though the heraldic use of blasyn (BLAZE v.2 sense 3) in the Promp. Parv. makes it likely that blazon in sense 1 may go back to c. 1500.]
I. Heraldic, and extensions.
1. trans. To describe in proper heraldic language. Also absol.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 202. If this following be blazoned by you.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, I. i. 5. To blazon is to expresse what the shapes, kinds, and colour of things born in Armes are together with their apt significations.
1775. T. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. 455. They pretend to blazon the arms painted in the glass windows.
1815. Scribbleomania, 303. In the same book we find the exact arms properly blazoned of Semiramis, Queen of Babylon.
2. To depict or paint (armorial bearings) according to the rules of heraldry.
1570. Sempill Ballates (1872), 65. With Guldis and Rukis, blasnit equallie Is the auld armes of the Hammiltounis.
1593. Rites & Mon. Ch. Durh. (1842). Having his armes verie excellentlie blasoned in fine coulored glasse.
1864. Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 381. In colours bright and fair, Each warrior’s name and scutcheon is duly blazoned there.
1875. Furnivall, in Thynne’s Animadv., 98. The arms of the Chancellor are blazond at the back of the title.
b. transf. and fig. To paint or depict in colors; to illuminate, set off or set out with fine coloring.
1699. Garth, Dispens., I. 15. She blazons in dread Smiles her hideous form.
1772. J. Fletcher, Logica Genev., 41. The Christian virtues which blazon his character.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. iii. Nor all that heralds rake from coffined clay Can blazon evil deeds, or consecrate a crime.
1851. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., II. III. I. v. § 5. Their effect is oftentimes deeper when their lines are dim, than when they are blazoned with crimson and pale gold.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxiv. 51. A broidery … whose curious art did blazon valour of heroes.
3. To inscribe (anything) with arms, paintings, names of distinction, set forth in colors, or in some ornamental way; to adorn as with blazonry.
1813. Scott, Trierm., III. xix. A hall, whose walls so wide Were blazon’d all with feats of pride. Ibid. (1827), Surg. Dau., i. 24. The door itself was blazoned with the name of Gideon Grey, M.A. Surgeon, &c. &c.
1862. Mrs. Browning, Forced Recruit, viii. And blazon the brass with their names.
1866. Motley, Dutch Rep., II. iii. 166. The blood-red flag of the ‘Sacred office’ … blazoned upon either side with the portraits of Alexander and of Ferdinand.
b. fig. To adorn or give luster to (as great names fittingly illuminated adorn a genealogical roll or record).
1815. Scribbleomania, 130, note. One more individual shall blazon my page. Ibid., 197. One of the greatest men that ever blazoned the annals of painting.
II. Related also to BLAZE v.2
4. To describe fitly, set forth honorably in words; = BLAZE v.2 4.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 329. By him perfitlie blasonis he All wirschep, manheid and nobilite.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. vi. 26. If the measure of thy ioy Be heapt like mine, and that thy skill be more To blason it.
1824. Campbell, Theodric, 90. Glowing pages, blazoning forth The fancied image of his leader’s worth.
1863. Mrs. C. Clarke, Shaks. Char., xv. 384. No herald more eloquently blazons the kingly attributes and virtues.
5. To publish vauntingly or boastfully, boast of. (Cf. BLAZING vbl. sb.2, ppl. a.2)
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Q iij. I wold neuer blasen loue with my tongue. Ibid., I i vij. And there we blason and boste.
1549. Compl. Scot., 14. Ther is diuerse men that can blason the veyris in the tauerne, or at the fyir syde, amang the vulgar ignorant pepil.
1807. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 124. My friend Launcelot is not a man to blazon any thing.
1812. Southey, Essays (1832), I. 133. If Buonaparte be spoken of, his crimes are palliated or concealed, his success blazoned, [etc.].
6. To proclaim, make public, ‘trumpet’; = BLAZE v.2 2. Also with forth, out. Often in a bad sense.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 215. To be silent, and not to blason at all so hainous an offence.
1591. Spenser, Teares Muses, 102. To blazon out their blames.
1681. Baxter, Apol. Nonconf. Min., 18. To blazon and aggravate our sufferings.
1731. Fielding, Mod. Husb., IV. i. A common trick … to blazon out the reputation of women whose virtue you have destroyed.
1845. Ld. Campbell, Chancellors (1857), II. xxxiv. 106. That the Queen’s shame … might not be blazoned on the journals.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, II. ix. 94. To have it blazoned out to the world.
b. with compl.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. xiii. § 3 (1622), 138. He, whom you blazoned to be immortall.
