banderilla

[ban-duh-ree-uh, -reel-yuh, bahn-de-ree-lyah, -yah]

noun

plural

banderillas 

1. an ornamented dart with barbs used by banderilleros for sticking into the neck or shoulder of the bull.

banderilla

/ ˌbændəˈriːə, -ˈriːljə /

noun

1. bullfighting a decorated barbed dart, thrust into the bull's neck or shoulder

Word History and Origins

Origin of banderilla¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Spanish, equivalent to bander(a) “flag, standard, banner” + -illa diminutive suffix, from Latin; banner

Word History and Origins

Origin of banderilla¹

Spanish, literally: a little banner, from bandera _banner

Example Sentences

It also says that bullfights should be adjusted immediately so that the animals aren’t killed in arenas or attacked with pikes and handheld harpoons called banderillas.

Read more on Seattle Times

Using thin skewers or long toothpicks, assemble 16 banderillas, threading 1 cheese cube, 1 quail egg, 1 cornichon, 1 pickled onion, and 1 piquillo strip on each.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The animals are not weakened by banderillas – darts which stab the bull in the neck and shoulders before the kill.

Read more on The Guardian

As far as Kantner’s volatile sensibilities were concerned, blue uniforms were like a flaring red cape to a thrice-gored bull still smarting from the banderillas.

Read more on Time

In celebration, the story goes, the quintessentially Peruvian condor was set like a living banderilla to torment the imperial bull.

Read more on New York Times

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