banderilleros
|ban-de-ri-lle-ros|
🇺🇸
/ˌbændəˈrɪlɛroʊ/
🇬🇧
/ˌbændəˈrɪlɛrəʊ/
(banderillero)
bullfighter who places banderillas
Etymology
'banderillero' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'banderillero', where 'banderilla' meant 'little flag' (from 'bandera' meaning 'flag') and the suffix '-ero' meant 'agent, person associated with'.
'banderillero' developed in Spanish from 'banderilla' + '-ero' (literally 'one associated with the banderilla') and was borrowed into English as a loanword referring to the specialized bullfighter role in bullfighting contexts.
Initially connected to the small flag-like object 'banderilla' (a little flag) and the person handling it, over time it came to specifically denote the bullfighter who plants the banderillas in the bull during a bullfight.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in bullfighting, one of the assistants to the matador who places banderillas (decorated short spears) into the bull; a bullfighter whose role is to plant the banderillas.
The banderilleros stepped forward to plant the banderillas before the final charge.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/10 03:00