Rebus

Encyclopedia : R : RE : REB : Rebus

Please [Glossary#Wwikify] (format) this article or section as suggested in the [Guide to layoutGuide to layout] and the [Manual of StyleManual of Style].
Remove this template after wikifying. This article has been tagged since July 2006.

For the Inspector Rebus'' series of novels see Rebus, and for the television adaptation see Rebus. Information on the eponymous detective, see Detective Inspector John Rebus.

A rebus (Latin: "by things") is a kind of word puzzle which uses pictures to represent words or parts of words, for example: H + picture of ear = Hear, or Here.

Rebus also refers to the use of a pictogram to represent a syllabic sound (NOT recording a concept). This adapts pictograms into phonograms (Rebus Form), a precursor to the development of the alphabet. This is perhaps one of the most important developments of writing.

This style of writing became popular in the 18th century, when people were known to write letters in rebus form. They used this to make private correspondence harder to understand, or simply just to add spice, fun and interactivity to a written conversation.

Arms of Congleton Borough Council: conger, leo, tun

Rebuses are used extensively in heraldry as a hint to the name of the owner of a coat of arms. This practice is known as canting. For example, the arms of the Borough of Congleton in Cheshire contain a conger eel, a lion (in Latin, leo) and a tun (another word for a barrel). This word sequence "conger leo tun" recalls the town's name.

The I Love New York logo is a well-known modern rebus.

Nowadays, rebus puzzles are used as brainteasers and placed in IQ tests. The more popular ones around just contain plain English letters of the alphabet in different sizes, colors and other manipulations that often represent popular sayings and phrases.

Here are examples of this type of rebus puzzle.

CCCSAILINGCCCC

LIE
KING

HEAD
HEELS

The answers to the puzzles above are as follows: Sailing in the seven seas, Lion King and Head over heels.

For the first one, the word 'sailing' is in between 7 'C's hence the answer. The next one has the word lie on top of the word 'king'. When pronounced (lie on king), it sounds just like the answer. The last one shows the word 'head' over the word 'heels'.

Another Puzzle: What does this rebus represent?

1.Bob drowned Frosted Flakes
2.Joe buried Captain Crunch
3.Sarah threw Rice Krispies off a cliff
4.Emily shot Cocoa Puffs

ANSWER: serial (cereal) killers

Rebuses were central to the United States television game show Concentration. Contestants had to solve a rebus, usually partially concealed, to win a game.

Rebus

See also