Re·bus n.; pl. Rebuses
 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.


 Cant·ing a. Speaking in a whining tone of voice; using technical or religious terms affectedly; affectedly pious; as, a canting rogue; a canting tone.
 -- Cant*ing*ly, adv. -- Cant*ing*ness, n.
 Canting arms, Canting heraldry Her., bearings in the nature of a rebus alluding to the name of the bearer. Thus, the Castletons bear three castles, and Pope Adrian IV. (Nicholas Breakspeare) bore a broken spear.