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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Rebus

Rē′bus, n.

noun

n.; pl. RĒ′BUS-ES. [Fr. rébus, from Lat. rebus, by things, abl. pl. of res, a thing.] 1. A mode of expressing words or phrases by pictures of objects whose names bear a resemblance to those words, or to 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, painted on the border of his gown a rose, a hill, an eye, a loaf, and a well, which reads, Rose Hill I love well. 2. (Her.) A coat of arms which bears an allusion to the name of the person, as three cups for Butler; canting arms. See CANT, v. i.

Re'bus, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To try the skill of with a rebus; hence, to give a riddle to; to play a puzzle or trick upon. Is there any man has rebused your worship? Shak. 2. To mark or indicate by a rebus. He [John Morton] had a fair library rebused with More in text and a Tun under it. Fuller.