rebus

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2017

re•bus /ˈribəs/   n.[countable] , pl.  -bus•es. 

1. a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables:
   Two gates and a head is a rebus for Gateshead.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2017

re•bus  (rē′bəs), n., pl.  -bus•es. 

1. a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables:
   Two gates and a head is a rebus for Gateshead.
2. a piece of writing containing many such representations.

• Latin rēbus by things (ablative plural of rēs), in phrase nōn verbīs sed rēbus not by words but by things
• 1595–1605

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rebus /ˈriːbəs/ n ( pl -buses)

1. a puzzle consisting of pictures representing syllables and words; in such a puzzle the word hear might be represented by H followed by a picture of an ear
2. a heraldic emblem or device that is a pictorial representation of or pun on the name of the bearer

Etymology: 17th Century: from French rébus, from the Latin rēbus by things, from res