'bandeau' originates from French, specifically the word 'bandeau', where 'bande' meant 'band' or 'strip'.

'bandeau' came into English from French (modern French 'bandeau') in the 19th century; French 'bande' (from Late Latin 'banda') gave rise to the diminutive 'bandeau', which English adopted with little change.

Initially it meant 'a small band or strip' (a literal band), but over time it came to refer particularly to a band of cloth used as a headband or a strapless garment for the chest.