banneret

1 of 2

noun (1)

ban·​ner·​et ˈba-nə-rət How to pronounce banneret (audio)
ˌba-nə-ˈret
often capitalized
: a knight leading his vassals into the field under his own banner

banneret

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly bannerette
ˈba-nə-rət How to pronounce banneret (audio)
ˌba-nə-ˈret
: a small banner

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English baneret, banerette "knight belonging to the higher of the two grades of knighthood (opposed to a knight-bachelor), able to bring vassals into the field under his own banner" borrowed from Anglo-French baneret, banneret (continental Old French banerès [subject], banerec [object]), from baner banner entry 1 + -et -et entry 1 (or alternatively from ban "summon to arms by a king or lord" + -eret, extension of -et)

Noun (2)

Middle English banerett, from baner banner entry 1 + -et -et entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of banneret was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near banneret

Cite this Entry

“Banneret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banneret. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on banneret

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!