rebus

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a puzzle where you decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Rebus \Re"bus\, v. t. To mark or indicate by a rebus. [1913 Webster]

He [John Morton] had a fair library rebused with More in text and Tun under it. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

Rebus \Re"bus\ (r[=e]"b[u^]s), n.; pl. Rebuses (r[=e]"b[u^]s*[e^]z). [L. rebus by things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. r['e]bus. Cf. 3d Real.]

1.A mode of expressing words and phrases by pictures of objects whose names resemble those words, or the syllables of which they are composed; enigmatical representation of words by figures; hence, a peculiar form of riddle made up of such representations. [1913 Webster]

Note: A gallant, in love with a woman named Rose Hill, had, embroidered on his gown, a rose, a hill, an eye, a loaf, and a well, signifying, Rose Hill I love well. [1913 Webster]

2.(Her.) A pictorial suggestion on a coat of arms of the name of the person to whom it belongs. See Canting arms, under Canting. [1913 Webster]

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