'bandore' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'bandora', where 'banda' meant 'band' (group or strip) and the suffix '-ora' formed instrument names.

'bandore' changed from the early modern English borrowing of Italian 'bandora' and entered English usage in the 16th–17th centuries; the English form appeared as 'bandora' or 'bandore', with 'bandores' used as the plural.

Initially, it meant 'a large cittern-like stringed instrument used in 16th–17th century England'; over time the meaning has remained essentially the same but the term has become archaic and is now rare.