gonfalon

1 definition found

gonfalon - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Gonfalon \Gon"fa*lon\, Gonfanon \Gon"fa*non\, n. [OE. gonfanoun,
     OF. gonfanon, F. gonfalon, the same word as F. confalon, name
     of a religious brotherhood, fr. OHG. gundfano war flag; gund
     war (used in comp., and akin to AS. g[=u][eth]) + fano cloth,
     flag; akin to E. vane; cf. AS. g[=u][eth]fana. See Vane,
     and cf. Confalon.]
     1. The ensign or standard in use by certain princes or
        states, such as the medi[ae]val republics of Italy, and in
        more recent times by the pope.
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     2. A name popularly given to any flag which hangs from a
        crosspiece or frame instead of from the staff or the mast
        itself.
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              Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and rear,
              Stream in the air.                    --Milton.
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