bandolier

noun

ban·​do·​lier ˌban-də-ˈlir How to pronounce bandolier (audio)
variants or bandoleer
: a belt worn over the shoulder and across the breast often for the suspending or supporting of some article (such as cartridges) or as a part of an official or ceremonial dress

Examples of bandolier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Clad in all black and sporting a bandolier of bullets, Beyoncé’s show was a clear ode to the Black Panthers and called attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 14 May 2023 One was in Baldwin’s bandolier. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 Apr. 2022 Decked out for war by costume designer Linda Cho, Wong carries face mask-shooting guns and wears a bandolier of thread spools, a giant pair of scissors strapped kitana-style to her back and pincushion armbands. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2022 Outfitted in his 10-gallon leather hat and a bandolier holding his brushes, Marquez painted for more than a month as Ukrainian military foot patrols passed by daily on their rounds. Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 The mark of a Bandito is a secret numbered tattoo: a skeleton wearing a thick mustache, a bandolier, and a sombrero, and brandishing a smoking gun. The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 One pending case was brought by eight deputies who allege they were routinely harassed by the Banditos, who have matching tattoos of a skeleton outfitted with a sombrero, bandolier and pistol. Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2022 Again, past and present will unite through works like a turn-of-the-20th-century bandolier bag with floral beadwork, an art form that continues. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Dec. 2021 Photographer Carolina Hernandez handed the two large sombreros, and Barragan draped a bandolier of bogus bullets over her shoulder, propped a toy rifle on her thigh and the cousins struck steely bandito poses. Brian Melley, ajc, 13 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bandolier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French bandouliere, probably borrowed from Catalan bandolera, feminine noun derivative from bandoler "highwayman, bandit" (presumably from the use of such belts as a prop for a highwayman's firearm), earlier, "supporter, partisan," from bàndol, variant (with parasitic l) of bando "faction, party" (borrowed from Spanish, probably going back to Late Latin bandum "flag, standard") + -er, going back to Latin -ārius -er entry 2 — more at band entry 3

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bandolier was circa 1577

Dictionary Entries Near bandolier

Cite this Entry

“Bandolier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bandolier. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bandolier

noun
ban·​do·​lier
variants or bandoleer
: a belt worn over the shoulder and across the body along the length of which items (as cartridges) may be carried in loops or pouches

More from Merriam-Webster on bandolier

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!