king-of-arms

English

Alternative forms

• king of arms

Etymology

From Middle English King of armes, kyng of armes.

Noun

king-of-arms (plural kings-of-arms)

1. One of the three chief heralds of the College of Arms, designated as Garter (Principal King of Arms), Clarenceux (for England south of the Trent and Wales), and Norroy & Ulster (for England north of the Trent and Northern Ireland).
   • 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 188:

     In April 1504 the longstanding Garter king-of-arms John Writhe died.

Derived terms

• Lord Lyon King of Arms
• Lyon King of Arms

Translations

one of the three chief heralds of the College of Arms

• Swedish: vapenkung c