Bandera

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Flag of a nation, often displaying symbols and colors specific to that country
2. A piece of cloth with distinctive designs or patterns, used as a symbol of identity or allegiance
3. In some contexts, a banner or standard used in military or ceremonial settings to represent a group or cause

Etymology: English "bandera" is borrowed from Spanish, where it means "flag" or "banner." The Spanish word descends from the same Romance root that gave Italian "bandiera," and English took it with its original sense of a standard carried into battle or displayed at a ceremony. The name also appears on the map. Bandera Pass, a gap in the Texas Hill Country, is named for the Spanish word, and the town and county that took their names from the pass were first settled by Poles, who used the Polish form of the same word. The spelling is also a Ukrainian surname, Банде́ра, so the same string of letters can point to a flag, a Texas pass, or a Ukrainian family name, depending on the context.

Synonyms: flag, banner, standard, ensign, colors