Pennon

/ˈpɛnən/ · noun

Meaning

(chiefly historical) A long, narrow flag or streamer, often swallowtailed or triangular, usually hung at the top of a helmet or lance, originally the ensign of a knight under the rank of knight banneret, and later of a lancer regiment..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly historical) A long, narrow flag or streamer, often swallowtailed or triangular, usually hung at the top of a helmet or lance, originally the ensign of a knight under the rank of knight banneret, and later of a lancer regiment.
2. Any banner or flag.
3. Synonym of pinion (“a wing”).
4. A heraldic charge in the form of a pennon (sense 1).
5. Synonym of pennant (“a flag or streamer used on a ship”).
6. A Knight Bachelor; also, a soldier who carries an ensign.
7. An ornament that dangles or hangs down.
8. (figurative) Something resembling a pennon (sense 1).

Example Sentences

Her yellovv lockes criſped, like golden vvyre, / About her ſhoulders vveren looſely ſhed, / And vvhen the vvinde emongſt them did inſpyre, / They vvaued like a penon vvyde diſpred / And lovv behinde her backe vvere ſcattered: […]

High on his pointed lance his Pennon bore / His Cretan Fight, the conquer'd Minotaure: […]

The pennon vvas the proper enſign of a bachelor or ſimple knight. Du Freſne ſhevvs that even eſquires might bear pennons, provided they could bring a ſufficient ſuite of vaſſals into the field.

[I]n spite of a sort of screen intended to protect them from the wind, the flame of the torches streamed sideways into the air, like the unfurled pennon of a chieftain.

He has quarrelled with his neighbours, he has scourged his foes; / Vassal counts and princes follow where his pennon goes, / Long-descended valiant lords whom the vulture knows, […]

Nearly all the Norman spears were embellished with pennons of from two to five points[…].

He rejoined the Twenty-Second Lancers at Cape Town—all the squadrons together again for the first time in two years—and sailed for home. The new King himself reviewed them after their arrival, having granted them time enough to discard their khaki and put on again the glories of blue and gold, schapska and plume, lance pennons and embroidered saddle cloths.

Ceſar perceyuing the camp of hys enemyes to be empty, rolled vp his banners, and hid the penons and anteſignes of his ſouldiers, and conueying hys ſouldiers by ſlender companies out of hys greater camp into the leſſer, to thentent [the intent] it ſhould not be perceiued out of the towne, […]

Synonyms for pennon

Antonyms for pennon

Related Words

Word Forms

• pennons

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