heraldry

n. study of family lineage and coats of arms; coat of arms; pomp and ceremony

Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. To most, though, heraldry is the practice of designing, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and badges. Historically, it has been variously described as “the shorthand of history” (Fox-Davies) and “the floral border in the garden of history” (Moncreiffe & Pottinger). The origins of heraldry lie in the need to distinguish participants in combat when their faces were hidden by iron and steel helmets. Eventually a system of rules developed into the modern form of heraldry.
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Noun
1. the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies
(hypernym) inquiry, enquiry, research
(class) crested
2. emblem indicating the right of a person to bear arms
(hypernym) emblem
(hyponym) charge, bearing, heraldic bearing, armorial bearing

(n.)
The art or office of a herald; the art, practice, or science of recording genealogies, and blazoning arms or ensigns armorial; also, of marshaling cavalcades, processions, and public ceremonies.
  

The rules by which a knight’s symbols were organized for clarity and individuality. Heralds, as officers of the court , were originally followers of the tournament , moving with the tournament circuit form place to place and originally paid along with jongleurs and minstrels . They were thus entertainers first, but during the 15th and 16th century they gradually absorbed the duties of court officers, carrying messages, and even negotiating between warring parties. See also Chronique: The Journal of Chivalry #10 .