{ Gon"fa*lon (?), Gon"fa*non (?), }
n. [OE. gonfanoun, OF. gonfanon, F.
gonfalon, the same word as F. confalon, name of a
religious brotherhood, fr. OHG. gundfano war flag; gund
war (used in comp., and akin to AS. gūð) +
fano cloth, flag; akin to E. vane; cf. AS.
gūðfana. See Vane, and cf. Confalon.]
1. The ensign or standard in use by certain
princes or states, such as the mediæval republics of Italy, and
in more recent times by the pope.
2. A name popularly given to any flag which
hangs from a crosspiece or frame instead of from the staff or the
mast itself.
Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and
rear,
Stream in the air.
Milton.