Etymograph

English

gonfalon

Gonfalon comes from Old French gonfalon, and goes back to Proto-Germanic *gunþifanô ‘war banner’.

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gunþifanô‘war banner’reconstructed
  2. Frankishc. 250–700*gunþifanōreconstructed
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400gonfalon
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1667same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gunþifanô‘war banner’reconstructed
  2. Frankishc. 250–700*gunþifanōreconstructed
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400gonfalon
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1667same form

Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book CXXXVII: “Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advanc'd, Standards, and Gonfalons…”

Every English word from Proto-Germanic *gunþifanô

Today it means

noun A standard or ensign, consisting of a pole with a crosspiece from which a banner is suspended, especially as used in church processions, but also for civic and military display.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *gunþifanô / gonfalon

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