roundel

American  

[roun-dl] / ˈraʊn dl /

noun

1. something round or circular.

2. a small, round pane or window.

3. a decorative plate, panel, tablet, or the like, round in form.

4. Theater. Also a round piece of colored gelatin or glass placed over stage lights as a color medium to obtain lighting effects.

5. Armor.

   1. a metal disk that protects the armpit.

   2. a metal disk on a hafted weapon or a dagger to protect the hand.

6. Heraldry. a small circular charge.

7. Prosody.

   1. a rondel or rondeau.

   2. a modification of the rondeau, consisting of nine lines with two refrains.

8. a round dance.

---

roundel British  

/ ˈraʊndəl /

noun

1. a form of rondeau consisting of three stanzas each of three lines with a refrain after the first and the third

2. a circular identifying mark in national colours on military aircraft

3. a small ornamental circular window, panel, medallion, plate, disc, etc

4. a round plate of armour used to protect the armpit

5. heraldry a charge in the shape of a circle

6. another word for roundelay

---

Etymology

Origin of roundel

1250–1300; Middle English roundele, rundel ( le ) < Old French rondel, derivative of rond round ¹ (adj.)

Example Sentences

The London Overground - and its distinctive orange and blue roundel - started running in 2007.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2024

It unfolds in a lively if unsettling roundel of debates.

From Washington Post • Sep. 8, 2022

The work, which measures 17 inches in diameter, was described by museum officials as the largest and one of the most technically sophisticated known examples of a bronze roundel from the early Renaissance.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2022

The right side of the helmets and the shoulders of the jerseys display the roundel.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2021

Anne laughed again at her mother's innocent expression, but Mrs. Stewart added: "I told you no good would come of transplanting hot- house flowers to an old-fashioned roundel."

From Polly of Pebbly Pit by Roy, Lillian Elizabeth