rebus

noun

1. An arrangement of pictures, symbols, or words representing phrases or words, especially as a word puzzle.

   “I back him at a Rebus or a Charade against the best Rhymer in the Kingdom—has your Ladyship heard the Epigram he wrote last week on Lady Frizzle's Feather catching Fire—”

2. A pictographic component of a compound character (e.g. sinograph) used to hint at the pronunciation of the compound.
3. (specifically)An arrangement of pictures on a coat of arms which suggests the name of the person to whom it belongs.

   “The prior [Will Bolton] used to come out here to hunt in summer and recreate himself, and his rebus—a barrel or tun shot through with a crossbow bolt—is set into the garden walls.”

4. A type of crossword puzzle in which some squares contain entire words, or symbols representing words, instead of single letters.

   “Instead of spelling out card suits, for example, perhaps the constructor inserted a "rebus," or picture icon for clubs, hearts, spades, or diamonds in one answer box.”

   “Rebuses are a vital part of cryptic crosswords and even themed standard crossword puzzles, as modernized under the leadership of Will Shortz at The New York Times, make use of rebuses.”

   “In the cruciverse, a rebus refers to a crossword that violates the basic "one letter per box" rule, requiring the entry of multiple letters - or even a number or symbol - into a single square”

verb

1. (obsolete, rare, transitive)To represent (a phrase or word) as a rebus.
2. (obsolete, rare, transitive)To apply a rebus to (something).

   “He [John Morton] was a learned man, and had a fair library, (rebussed with more in text and tun under it,) partly remaining in the possession of the late earl of Arundel.”