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  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rebus  \Re"bus\,  n.;  pl  {Rebuses}.  [L.  rebus  by  things  abl.  pl 
  of  res  a  thing:  cf  F.  r['e]bus.  Cf  3d  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. 
 
  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 
 
  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}. 

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