. The term “arms” (Lat. arma, Fr. armes, armoiries, or blasons) was used from the late 12th century for a design of fixed elements in a fixed arrangement and fixed colors, conventionally covering the whole surface of a shield or flag,...

. The term “herald” (OFr. heralt or herau[l]t) was applied from at least 1170 to men (down to ca. 1300 closely associated with minstrels) who specialized in matters associated with the tournament. From 1170 to 1500 and beyond, heralds were...

Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms.[1] To most, though, heraldry is the practice of designing, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and badges....