gonfanon

[ gon-fuh-nuhn ]

noun

1. a gonfalon that hangs directly from a pole, especially from the shaft of a lance just below the lance head.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gonfanon¹

1250–1300; Middle English go ( u ) nfano ( u ) n < Old French gunfanun, gonfanon, Old Provençal gonfano < Germanic; compare Old High German gund ( Old English gūth ) battle, German Fahne flag

Example Sentences

Originally this ensign was called a gonfanon, the combination of two Teutonic words, signifying war and a standard.

From Project Gutenberg

Seeing that the original has gonfanon, it is clear that Chaucer wrote gonfanoun, riming with renoun.

From Project Gutenberg

I shall only add that the banner was sometimes called the Gonfanon.

From Project Gutenberg

Near the head of the lance is a gonfanon the fly of which is split into long tails.

From Project Gutenberg

Another variety of feudal standard, differing from either the bannire or the pennon, was the gonfanon.

From Project Gutenberg