bannermen
|ban-ner-men|
🇺🇸
/ˈbænərmən/
🇬🇧
/ˈbænəmən/
(bannerman)
flag carrier
Etymology
'bannerman' originates from Middle English, formed from the compound of 'banner' + 'man', where 'banner' ultimately comes from Old French 'baniere' (from Late Latin 'bandum' or 'bannum') meaning 'flag' and 'man' comes from Old English 'mann' meaning 'person'.
'banner' entered Middle English via Old French 'baniere' (from Late Latin), while 'man' continued from Old English 'mann'; these combined in Middle English to form 'bannerman' meaning 'one who bears a banner', which later produced the plural 'bannermen'.
Initially it meant 'a person who carries a banner' (a literal standard-bearer); over time it also came to mean 'a follower or retainer under a leader's banner' and, in some historical contexts, specifically 'a member of the Qing dynasty's Eight Banners'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'bannerman'.
The bannermen marched behind their lord.
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Noun 2
persons who carry a banner or flag; standard-bearers; by extension, followers or retainers who rally under a leader's banner.
The bannermen carried the colors into battle, inspiring the troops behind them.
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Noun 3
historically: members of the 'banner' military/administrative units—especially the bannermen of the Qing dynasty's Eight Banners (Manchu, Mongol, and Han banner troops).
During the Qing era, bannermen held distinct legal and social status separate from commoners.
Synonyms
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Last updated: 2026/01/12 13:20