banner

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

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.

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