nobiliary

Nobiliary is an English adjective meaning relating to the nobility or to noble families. It is used in historical, genealogical, legal, and heraldic contexts to describe matters connected with noble ranks, titles, estates, or insignia, as well as the offices and privileges associated with aristocratic status. In practice, writers may speak of nobiliary titles, nobiliary arms, or nobiliary records to indicate material connected with noble houses.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin nobilis "noble," via Old French or directly into English, with the adjectival suffix -arius forming Latin-based adjectives. The form is chiefly encountered in scholarly writing and is less common in everyday speech.

Usage: Nobiliary is common in discussions of genealogy, heraldry, sovereignty, and the legal frameworks relating to nobility, such as patents of nobility, peerage, and heraldic arms. A "nobiliary register" or "nobiliary armorial" is a catalog or reference work listing noble families, their titles, and arms.

Relation: Related concepts include nobility, aristocracy, heraldry, arms, and armorial bearings. The term is not related to the medical term biliary, which refers to bile ducts and the gallbladder.