vexillum

[ vek-sil-uh m ]

/ vɛkˈsɪl əm /

noun, plural vex·il·la [vek-sil-uh] /vɛkˈsɪl ə/.

a military standard or flag carried by ancient Roman troops.

a group of men serving under such a standard.

video frequency.

Also vex·il

[vek-sil] /ˈvɛk sɪl/. Botany. the large upper petal of a papilionaceous flower.

Ornithology Rare. the web or vane of a feather.

Nearby words

vexed, vexillary, vexillate, vexillographer, vexillology, vexillum, vf, vfd, vfr, vfx, vg

Origin of vexillum

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for vexil

vexillum

/ (vɛkˈsɪləm) /

noun plural -la (-lə)

ornithol the vane of a feather

botany another name for standard (def. 16)

Derived Forms

vexillary or vexillar, adjectivevexillate, adjective

Word Origin for vexillum

C18: from Latin: banner, perhaps from vēlum sail

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