gonfanon

noun

gon·​fa·​non

ˈgänfəˌnän,

-nən

plural -s

: gonfalon

especially : one beneath the head of a knight's lance

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gonfanoun, from Middle French gonfanon gonfalon, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gundfano war flag, from gund- battle, war + fano cloth

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!