bandolier

noun

ban·​do·​lier ˌban-də-ˈlir 

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

Baker recreated the Lenape bandolier bag to help revitalize one of his community’s art forms. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024

Advertisement Members of the former are alleged to sport tattoos of a skull with Nazi imagery and an AK-47, while members of the latter are allegedly known for their matching tattoos of a skeleton outfitted with a sombrero, bandolier and pistol. —Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

From Scottsdale, Arizona, to Birmingham in Michigan and Birmingham in Alabama, women are wearing jewels on satin cords, bindings of silk and braid, doing sashes bandolier style. —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2024

Today, members of the Sac and Fox Nation travel to the museum to experience their culture firsthand, embodied by the intricate, vibrant beadwork that adorns the bandolier bag. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

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

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

Kids Definition

bandolier

noun

ban·​do·​lier

variants or bandoleer

ˌban-də-ˈli(ə)r 

: 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