■ noun
1》 an official employed to oversee state ceremonial and the use of armorial bearings, and (historically) to make proclamations, carry official messages, and oversee tournaments.
↘(in the UK) an official of the College of Arms ranking above a pursuivant.
2》 a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen: primroses are the ~ of spring.
3》 a brown moth with dull orange markings. [ Scoliopteryx libatrix .]
■ verb
1》 signal the imminence of.
2》 acclaim.
Origin
ME: from OFr. herault (n.), herauder (v.), of Gmc origin.