Pennon

Pennon is a flag or banner, typically a long, narrow piece of cloth attached to a pole or spear. The form is usually tapered to a point at the fly end, though variations include swallow-tailed or straight-edged shapes. Pennons have been used since medieval times to indicate allegiance, rank, or identity, and in heraldry they were flown to display the arms of a knight or noble on campaign or at tournaments.

Origin: The word comes from Old French pennon, modern French pennon, from Latin penna, meaning feather or wing. The term has long overlapped in usage with pennant, but in modern English it is most often encountered in historical or heraldic contexts.

In medieval warfare, pennons were typically attached to lances or crested on helmets to identify friend from foe and indicate the bearer’s allegiance. In tournaments and heraldic displays, pennons bore coats of arms and banners signified the prestige and lineage of noble houses. As naval flags evolved, the term pennant became more common in maritime usage, while pennon remains a term favored in heraldic descriptions.

Today the pennon is primarily of ceremonial or historical interest. It appears in heraldic blazons, reenactments, and museum displays. In contemporary vexillology, pennant is generally used for narrow flags flown on ships or as decorative streamers, whereas pennon is reserved for older, traditional forms.