Etymology

pencel

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Today it means: A small pennon; a little banner, flag, or streamer. Full definition →

First used 13th c.Anglo-Norman pencel
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The story

  1. Anglo-Norman · derived frompencel
  2. English todaypencel

From Anglo-Norman pencel, reduced form of penuncel. See pennoncel. By surface analysis, pen + Old French -cel.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 13th c. A small pennon; a little banner, flag, or streamer.
  • 15th–16th c. A lady's favour or token as worn by a knight.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.