Etymology Map
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Banner

3 stages from Gothic to English.

Today it means a long strip of cloth with a slogan or design

Where does the word "banner" come from? It comes from Gothic bandwa, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
bandwa
Gothic · ancient
"sign, signal"
a Germanic word for a sign or signal
2
Stage 2 of 3
banere
Old French · medieval
"war flag"
a lord's flag, which vassals rallied to in battle
3
Stage 3 of 3
banner
English · 1200s
"a long strip of cloth bearing a design"
later used for newspaper headlines and web advertising
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Read the full story

Banner’s story begins in Gothic: bandwa meant “sign, signal.” A Germanic word for a sign or signal. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as banere. A lord's flag, which vassals rallied to in battle. It reached English by 1200s as banner. Later used for newspaper headlines and web advertising. Today, banner means a long strip of cloth with a slogan or design.