gonfalon

[ gon-fuh-luhn ]
See synonyms for gonfalon on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a banner suspended from a crossbar, often with several streamers or tails.

  2. a standard, especially one used by the medieval Italian republics.

Origin of gonfalon

1
1585–95; <Italian gonfalone<Middle French gonfalon, gonfanon<Germanic; see gonfanon

Words Nearby gonfalon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gonfalon in a sentence

  • The flame-colored abbey gonfalon on its gold lance flouted the German emperor when Bouvines great victory was won in 1214.

    How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
  • He registered a vow to set a watch on this solicitous cousin who offered so readily to bear his gonfalon.

    Love-at-Arms | Raphael Sabatini
  • The galley was driven ashore and the old fellow leapt on to the beach, the gonfalon being borne before him.

    Venice and its Story | Thomas Okey
  • The Doge himself, seventy-two years and all, reared his gonfalon of gold in the Piazza and decided to lead the armament.

    Venice and its Story | Thomas Okey
  • gonfalon, gon′fa-lon, n. an ensign or standard with streamers—also Gon′fanon.

British Dictionary definitions for gonfalon

gonfalon

gonfanon (ˈɡɒnfənən)

/ (ˈɡɒnfələn) /


noun
  1. a banner hanging from a crossbar, used esp by certain medieval Italian republics or in ecclesiastical processions

  2. a battle flag suspended crosswise on a staff, usually having a serrated edge to give the appearance of streamers

Origin of gonfalon

1
C16: from Old Italian gonfalone, from Old French gonfalon, of Germanic origin; compare Old English gūthfana war banner, Old Norse gunnfani

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012