Re"bus (?), n.; pl. Rebuses (#). [L. rebus by things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. r'ebus. Cf. 3d things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. r'ebus. 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.

⇒ 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.

 

© Webster 1913.


Re"bus, v. t.

To mark or indicate by a rebus.

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

 

© Webster 1913.

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