Coat of arms

<p>A coat of arms is a <a href="/facts/Heraldry/cmkn0H85">heraldic</a> <a href="/facts/Communication_design/WL5y01RV">visual design</a> on an <a href="/facts/Escutcheon_(heraldry)/3SuIloAf">escutcheon</a> (i.e., <a href="/facts/Shield/udD3Pm6g">shield</a>), <a href="/facts/Surcoat/h9MUnAbv">surcoat</a>, or <a href="/facts/Tabard/FwB1m4cP">tabard</a> (the last two being outer garments), originating in <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a>. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full <a href="/facts/Achievement_(heraldry)/BAjocoAS">heraldic achievement</a>, which in its whole consists of a shield, <a href="/facts/Supporter/7op54X5l">supporters</a>, a <a href="/facts/Crest_(heraldry)/lYlulHL5">crest</a>, and a <a href="/facts/Motto/zPMmWKAW">motto</a>. A coat of arms is traditionally unique to the <a href="/facts/Armiger/Ne6tu4SF">armiger</a> (e.g. an <a href="/facts/Individual_person/XD3Hhqup">individual person</a>, <a href="/facts/Family/EmvXYlxe">family</a>, state, <a href="/facts/Organization/CR83f1Rn">organization</a>, <a href="/facts/School/AxxKew5Y">school</a> or <a href="/facts/Corporation/hykSVoWJ">corporation</a>). The term "coat of arms" itself, describing in modern times just the heraldic design, originates from the description of the entire medieval chainmail "surcoat" garment used in combat or preparation for the latter.
</p><p><a href="/facts/Roll_of_arms/VmQL6DeC">Rolls of arms</a> are collections of many coats of arms, and since the <a href="/facts/Early_Modern_Age/hhpHM721">early Modern Age</a> centuries, they have been a source of information for public showing and tracing the membership of a <a href="/facts/Nobility/WLPIA8GT">noble family</a>, and therefore its <a href="/facts/Genealogy/vIAYr85a">genealogy</a> across <a href="/facts/Time/HceJKUGB">time</a>.
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Coat of arms open-in-new

Coat of arms