pennoncel

English

Alternative forms

• pennoncelle
• penoncel

Etymology

From Middle English penoncel, from Old French penuncel, diminutive of penon (“pennon”). See pennon, pennant.

Noun

pennoncel (plural pennoncels)

1. (historical) A small pennon (a thin flag or streamer).

   Synonym: pencel

   • 1610, John Guillim, “Sect[ion] IV. Chap[ter] XIII.”, in A Display of Heraldrie: […], London: […] William Hall for Raphe Mab, →OCLC, page 224:

     Theſe Penoncels are made of certain ſmal peeces of Taffeta or Sarcinet, cut after the forme of a Pennon, vvherevvith Martiall men doe oftentimes adorne their Speares and Launces, vvhich albeit of themſelues they be things of no moment, yet doe they very often (like as alſo Banners doe) aſtoniſh the Enemie through their continuall motion, foraſmuch as they are euermore vvafting and vvauering in the vvinde, vvhereby they doe ſo occupy the enemies eie as that it breedeth a terrour in the minde of their foes, […]

   • 1958, T. H. White, chapter 25, in The Once and Future King‎^[1], New York: Berkeley, pages 423–424:

     Where the raiding parties had once streamed along the highways with fluttering pennoncels, now there were merry bands of pilgrims telling each other dirty stories on the way to Canterbury.