gonfalon

noun

gon·​fa·​lon ˈgän-fə-ˌlän How to pronounce gonfalon (audio)
-lən
1
: the ensign of certain princes or states (such as the medieval republics of Italy)
2
: a flag that hangs from a crosspiece or frame

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian gonfalone, dissimilated from gonfanone, borrowed from Old French gunfanun, gonfanon "battle standard, banner," going back to Old Low Franconian *gundfanōn, going back to Germanic *gunþfanōn (whence also Old English gūþfana "battle standard, banner," Old Saxon gūthfano, Old High German gundfano, Old Icelandic gunnfani), from *gunþī, gunþjō "battle, combat" + *fanōn "piece of cloth" — more at defend, vane

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gonfalon was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near gonfalon

Cite this Entry

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

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