BLAZON, a heraldic shield, a coat of arms properly "de scribed" according to the rules of heraldry, hence the proper heraldic description of such a coat. The O.Fr. blazon seems originally to have meant a shield for self defence, but this is difficult to reconcile with the generally accepted derivation from the Ger. blasen, to blow, proclaim; English "blaze," to noise abroad, to declare.