vexillum

[ vek-sil-uhm ]

noun

, plural vex·il·la [vek-, sil, -, uh].

1. a military standard or flag carried by ancient Roman troops.
2. a group of men serving under such a standard.
3. video frequency.
4. Also vex·il [] Botany. the large upper petal of a papilionaceous flower.
5. Ornithology Rare. the web or vane of a feather.

vexillum

/ vɛkˈsɪləm /

noun

1. ornithol the vane of a feather
2. botany another name for standard

Derived Forms

• ˈvexillate, adjective
• ˈvexillary, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vexillum¹

1720–30; < Latin: standard, flag, diminutive from the base of vēlum sail ( veil )

Word History and Origins

Origin of vexillum¹

C18: from Latin: banner, perhaps from vēlum sail

Example Sentences

With an estimated temperature increase of about 3.6°F in the next few years, the number of invasive species, particularly the Didemnum vexillum and Botrylloides violaceus, could double, according to UNH research released back in February.

From Fox News

At 18, deciding that the study of flags deserved its own name, he coined the term vexillology, combining the Latin word for flag, “vexillum,” with the Greek suffix meaning “the study of.”

From New York Times

The original form was some fixed object such as we have seen on the Egyptian and Roman examples, and the vexillum and labarum were transitional forms.

From Project Gutenberg

The labarum, like the vexillum, had sometimes fringes with tassels or ribbons.

From Project Gutenberg

The vexillum of the Romans was a standard composed of a square piece of cloth fastened to a cross bar at the top of a spear, sometimes with a fringe all round as shown in Fig.

From Project Gutenberg