a short sleeveless outer tunic emblazoned with a coat of arms; worn by a knight over his armor or by a herald

a rectangular piece of material with a hole in the middle to put your head, the two sides are worn front and back and tied with a cord

a short coat, either sleeveless, or with short sleeves or shoulder pieces, emblazoned on the front and back with the arms of the sovereign, and worn, as

a simple garment, similar to a surcoat, slit down the sides, with the front and back held togther by ties which could be drawn tight or left loose. Tabards were used in tournaments to display the knights' heraldry in the late 15th century, and survive today as the elaborate garments worn by officers of the English College of Heralds on ceremonial occassions.

Short, open-sided garment with short sleeves used to display the wearer's arms. Often worn by heralds.

A cloth apron sometimes worn to show position.

Short garment with open sides and short sleeves worn to display a coat-of-arms

A sleeveless or short-sleeved tunic worn over armor in the Middle Ages. Where appropriate, arms decorated the garment, making it a coat-of-arms.

short, loose garment, open at the side and having short, wide sleeves, worn in 15th century by some knights

1) In US army usage, a trumpet banner - see ‘ bannerette'. 2) The formal surcoat worn by a herald on ceremonial occasions, and emblazoned with those arms appropriate to the particular office involved (see also ‘ coat of arms 2)').

A tabard is a short coat, either sleeveless, or with short sleeves or shoulder pieces, which was a common item of men's clothing in the Middle Ages, usually for outdoors. It might be belted, or not. Tabards might be emblazoned on the front and back with a coat of arms, and in this form they survive now as the distinctive garment of officers of arms in heraldry.