▪ I. herald, n.
(ˈhɛrəld)
Forms: (3 hyraudus), 4–5 heraud, -e, herowd, -e, herode, (4 herrod, herhaud), 5 herrowd, heroud, herewde, herrold, har(r)awd, -e, harood, -ud, -ott, -owed, harrote, harrold, 5–6 herawde, herrald(e, harralde, harhalde, 5–7 herault, harrot, 5–8 herauld, -e, 6 her(e)hault, herehaut, herehaught(e, haraude, -aulde, -ald, -rald, -olde, -rolde, -rould, harhodde, harad, -at, -et, -rat, -ratt, -otte, 6–7 harolde, heralde, 7 heralt, -aute, -old, haralt; (5–6) 7– herald.
[ME. heraud, herault, etc., representing OF. heraut, herault, med.L. haraldus, heraldus, It. araldo, Sp. haraldo, heraldo, OSp. faraute; a word of uncertain origin, generally conjectured to be from Teutonic. Diez suggested as a possible source an OGer. *hariwald, *hęriwald, ‘wielder’ or ‘commander of an army’, citing the proper names Chariovaldus, OS. Hariolt, ON. Haraldr; but this seems to fail to explain the sense. Others have suggested a possible derivation from OHG. harên, herên to cry, call, which suits the sense better, but involves other difficulties. See Markel, German. elem. in französisch (1887) 62.]
1. a. An officer having the special duty of making royal or state proclamations, and of bearing ceremonial messages between princes or sovereign powers. Also, b. employed in the tourney to make proclamations, convey challenges, and marshal the combatants. Hence, c. having the function of arranging public processions, funerals, and other state ceremonials; of regulating the use of armorial bearings (cf. disclaim v. 7); of settling questions of precedence in processions or at court; and, in process of time, of recording the names and pedigrees of those entitled to armorial bearings: see Heralds' College in f.
| a. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 3323 At an herhaud þan asked he, ‘This armed folk, what may [þis] be?’ 13.. Coer de L. 428 He comaunded hastely Herodes for to make cry, And every man for to wende Home. 1375 Barbour Bruce xii. 371 Throu-out the hoost..gert thai ga Herrodis for till mak ane crye. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1675 An herowd [v. rr. heraud(e, herald] on a skaffold made a hoo..And when he sawh þe pepul of noyse al stille Thus schewid he þe mighty dukes wille. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3013 An hawrawde hyes be·fore, the best of the lordes. a 1400–50 Alexander 883 Heraudis [Dubl. Harraldes] on heȝe hors hendly a-rayed. c 1465 Eng. Chron. (1856) 46 He..sente heroudis to the toun [Rouen] and bad thaym yelde it to the kyng of Englond. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon ix. 203 Thus departed the herawde from the oost of Charlemagne. 1513 Douglas æneis v. v. 3 With ane harraldis lowde voce. 1565 in Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. 316 Wyne for the Quenes Haroldes. Ibid., The Quenes harrodes. 1565–73 Cooper Thesaurus, Caduceator,..an ambassadour or harold sent to intreat of peace. 1570 Levins Manip. 15/46 An herald for peace, caduceator. 1599 Shakes. Hen.V, iv. vii. 59 Take a Trumpet Herald, Ride thou vnto the Horsemen on yond hill. 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alph., Herault, kings messenger. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Harold, Heralt or Herald. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 518 The sounding Alchymie By Haralds voice explain'd. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xvi. §245 His Majesty..sent it likewise by Garter, Herauld and King at Armes. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v., In the army, drums and trumpets have succeeded to the function of heralds, being sent by the generals on the same errands; and..enjoying the same rights and privileges. 1838 Thirlwall Greece xiii. II. 161 A herald came to demand an armistice. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 121 Need we hire the herald, or shall I proclaim the result? |
| b. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 16 Faith..cryde a! fili dauid! As doth an Heraude of armes whan [auntrous] cometh to iustes. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 159 By here Cote Armures and by hir gere The heraudes knewe hem best in special. a 1440 Sir Eglam. 1109 At morne when day sprange, Gentyl men to haruds thrange. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 341 Heraudis he dyd go and Ride Another turnamente for to Crye. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 7 [He] sente his heraulds..to announce that the jousts shold be halden. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) ii. 63 The harraldes cryd, ‘God schaw the rycht,’ Syne bad thame go to⁓gidder. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 6 (Stage dir.) Enter King..and others. Then Mowbray in Armor, and Harrold. Ibid. 25 Tucket. Enter Hereford, and Harold. 1820 Scott Ivanhoe viii, The Prince..gave signal to the heralds to proclaim the laws of the tournament. |
| c. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 321 Pursevantes and herauldes That crien ryche folkes laudes..Had on him throwen a vesture Whiche that men clepen a cote armure. a 1500 Sir Beues (Pynson) 3453 Euery syde Armes were hanged fayre and wyde, Herodes gan the armes escrye. 1530 Palsgr. 456/2 He can blase armes as well as any herault..in Englande. 1562 Leigh Armorie Pref. (1597) A ij, They..are named ancient Herehaughtes, who haue made distinction betweene the gentle and the vngentle. 1572 N. Roscarrock Prelim. Verses to Bossewell's Armorie, Ye perfit skil Of Herehauts art. 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 27 a, Buying Armes of the Herald, who giues them the Lyon without tongue, tayle, or tallents. 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 217 The herralde to blason their descente from an old house. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. iii, The first red herring that was broil'd in Adam and Eve's kitchen, doe I fetch my pedigree from by the Harrots bookes. 1663 Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 480 (Burial of Archbp. Juxon) Persons that came to attend the corps, wherof Garter King at armes was one and four more heralds. 1687 Dryden Hind. & P. iii. 156 Do you not know that for a little coin Heralds can foist a name into the line? 1766 Entick London IV. 26 The six heralds are Windsor, Chester, Lancaster, York, Richmond, and Somerset, who take place according to seniority in office. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby iv. iv, The heralds they pay to paint their carriages. |
† d. Formerly called, with reference to some functions of the office, herald of (at) arms.
| 1377 [see b]. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 2465 Harroldys of armes cryed on hight, The prynce and that other knyght No more juste shall thay. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 34 Than was it cried by an haraude of armes, y{supt} eche of them should do theyr best. 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 50 There was made a proclamacyon with dyvers harhoddes of armes and pursevanttes in their cote armeres. 1569 Nottingham Rec. IV. 134 Gevyn to the haret of armes..xxs. 1646 Bp. Maxwell Burd. Issach. in Phenix (1708) II. 296 The Lords of the Council..sent a Gentleman..with an Herald at Arms, to..dissolve their Meeting. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Heralds, or heralds at arms. |
† e. King herald, Lyon herald: ancient names of Garter king-of-arms and Lyon king-of-arms: see King-of-arms.
| [c 1276 in Spelman Gloss. (1664) s.v. Heraldus, Petrus Rex Hyraudorum citra aquam de Trent ex parte boreali. 13.. Statuta Armorum Stat. Realm (1810) I. 231 E qe nul Roy des Haraunz ne Menestrals portent privez armez.] c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 1035 A herrowd of Armes as gret a dygnyte has, Specially kynge harrawd must haue þe principalle place. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. vii. 140 The King of Scotis..in haist directes Lyon harrat King of armes to the Jnglis King. Ibid. 142 The king..his lettres delyuiris to lyon Harratt, wrytne in verie sour and proud wordes. |
f. Heralds' College, or College of Arms: a royal corporation, founded 1483, consisting of the Earl Marshal, kings-of-arms, heralds, and pursuivants, exercising jurisdiction in matters armorial, and now recording proved pedigrees, and granting armorial bearings. Heralds' Office, the office of this corporation.
| 1588 Thynne Let. Ld. Burghley in Animadv. Introd. 91 The whoole colledge of hereaudes. a 1655 in Cotgrave Treas. Wit & Lang., Her. 126 He is at the Heralds Office yondir. What, Has he purchas'd Arms then? a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) I. 153 If it was his assigned and not hereditary coat, it will be long enough ere therald's office grant another. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 11 ¶4, I shall give you my Genealogy, as a Kinsman of ours has sent it me from the Heralds-Office. 1869 Rogers Hist. Gleanings I. 32 A parvenu pays the Heralds' College for a pedigree. |
2. transf. and fig. a. One who proclaims or announces the message of another; a messenger, envoy. Hence, a frequent title of newspapers, as The Morning Herald, Glasgow Herald, etc.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xvi. 247 Þus haue I [Abraham] ben his heraude here and in helle. 1467 Sir J. Paston in Paston Lett. No. 570 II. 301, I alweys schall be your herault bothe her, if sche com hydder, and at home when I kome hom. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 97 Their Herald is a pretty knauish Page: That well by heart hath con'd his embassage. 1615 J. Stephens Satyr. Ess. 201 His tongue, the Herald of his imagination, is a busie Officer. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 230, I finde our very enemies Prophets to foretell, and Heraulds to declare it, for us. 1781 Cowper Charity 136 A herald of God's love to pagan lands. 1836 Emerson Nature, Beauty Wks. (Bohn) II. 149 Beauty in nature is not ultimate. It is the herald of inward and eternal beauty. |
b. A person (or thing) that precedes and announces the approach of another; a forerunner, precursor.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. v. 6 It was the Larke the Herauld of the Morne. c 1600 ― Sonn. i, Only herauld to the gaudy spring. 1759 Dilworth Pope 76 One of the most active heralds to his rising fame. 1802 Wordsw. To the small Celandine viii, Herald of a mighty band, Of a joyous train ensuing. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 197 Earthquakes are often the heralds of volcanic eruptions. 1894 H. Drummond Ascent Man 295 The Flower, botanically, is the herald of the Fruit. |
3. One skilled in heraldry; a heraldist.
| 1821 Scott Kenilw. xii, ‘With neck reguardant,’ said the herald. 1880 Warren Book-plates xii. 126 A print-collector, an ex-librist, and a herald. |
4. (In full, herald-moth). Name of one of the noctuid moths, Gonoptera libatrix.
| 1832 J. Rennie Butterfl. & Moths 82 The Herald..appears in April and end of July. 1843 Duncan in Nat. Libr. XL. 231 The Herald-moth..is..found plentifully in October, whence Aurelians have called it the Herald, from an idea that its appearance gave indication of the approach of winter. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as herald angel, herald star, etc.; herald-vouched adj.; herald-crab = heraldic crab; herald-moth: see sense 4; herald-painter (see quot. 1688); herald-snake, the southern African snake, Crotaphopeltis hotambœia, hotambœia, which has red or yellow lips and is also called the red-lipped snake.
| 1646 G. Daniel Poems Wks. 1878 I. 45, I neither boast, nor Skorne, a faire discent, Noble, and Herald-vouched Ancient. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 279 Now the herald lark Left his ground-nest, high towering to descry The Morn's approach. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 147/2 A Herald Painter is such as Paints Coats of Arms on Escochions, Shields, Tables, Penons, Standarts, and such like. 1728 Pope Dunc. ii. 18 The Queen, to glad her sons, proclaims By herald Hawkers, high heroic Games. 1753 Whitfield Hymn, Hark, the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new⁓born King. 1771 Gray Corr. N. Nicholls (1843) 127 Jean Froissart, son of Thomas, by profession a herald painter. 1808 Scott Marm. iv. xiv, The Herald-bard [Sir David Lyndesay, Lyon-King and poet]. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. xxxviii, The herald melodies of spring. 1878 B. Taylor Deukalion iv. i. 137 No herald star announced my birth. 1910 F. W. Fitzsimons Snakes S. Afr. iii. 57/2 The Red-lipped or Herald Snake..is one of the best-known and most widespread snakes in Africa. 1947 J. Stevenson-Hamilton Wild Life S. Afr. xxxvi. 330 The red-lipped or herald snake (Leptodira hotamboea).—This is distinguished by its upper lip being of bright red colour; it carries large light-brown scales and a black headband. 1970 V. F. M. FitzSimons Field Guide to Snakes S. Afr. 118 Herald or Red-lipped Snake.., according to the prevailing colour on the upper lips, it is variously known as the White- or Yellow-lipped Snake. |
Hence ˈheraldess, a female herald. † ˈheraldet, a petty herald. ˈheraldship, the office or dignity of a herald.
| 1881 J. M. Rodwell Isa. 98 Zion, heraldess of joy, get thee up into a high mountain. 1890 G. A. Smith Isaiah II. v. 85 The verses from Behold your God, to the end of the Prologue are the song of the heraldess. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. iv. i, Fit. Her grace's herald? Alm. No herald yet, a heraldet. 1613 Selden Illustr. Drayton's Poly-olb. iii, [Woden], being by name president of ways, and by his office of heraldship Pacifex, i.e. Peacemaker. |
▪ II. ˈherald, v.
Forms: see n.; also 4–5 hiraude, hyraude.
[a. OF. herauder, heraulder, hirauder, f. heraut, hiraut herald n.]
1. trans. To proclaim, to announce, as at hand or drawing nigh; to usher in, introduce.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 486 His clarioun..With which he wonde is to hiraude [v. rr. herawde, heraude, hyraude] Hem that me list preised be. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. iii. 102 Wee are sent, To giue thee from our Royall Master thanks, Onely to harrold thee into his sight, Not pay thee. 1631 R. H. Arraignm. Whole Creature xv. §3. 261 She must be..Heralded, proclaimed, Trumpetted, as the onely Paragon of her Sexe. 1810 Southey Kehama vii. v, The Orient..Kindles as it receives the rising ray, And heralding his way, Proclaims the presence of the Power divine. 1855 Longfellow Hiaw. ix. 126 And the heron..Heralded the hero's coming. 1869 Phillips Vesuv. iii. 46 Six months of continued earthquakes..heralded the eruption. 1886 F. W. Robinson Courting Mary Smith II. 292 The new young day which the chimes of Coalsby had heralded in a few minutes ago. |
† 2. intr. To act as herald. Obs. rare—0.
| 1530 Palsgr. 583/1, I herawde, I expresse the offyce of an herawde, je haraude. |
Hence ˈheralding vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1814 Cary Dante, Paradise xxvi. 42 [St John] who chief proclaim'st E'en at the outset of thy heralding..the mystery of heaven. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 211 The tempest..I heard its heralding roar in the gullies of the mountains. |
▪ III. herald
corrupt form of hareld.