from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gonfalon \Gon"fa*lon\, Gonfanon \Gon"fa*non\, n. [OE. gonfanoun,
OF. gonfanon, F. gonfalon, the same word as F. confalon, name
of a religious brotherhood, fr. OHG. gundfano war flag; gund
war (used in comp., and akin to AS. g[=u][eth]) + fano cloth,
flag; akin to E. vane; cf. AS. g[=u][eth]fana. See {Vane},
and cf. {Confalon}.]
1. The ensign or standard in use by certain princes or
states, such as the medi[ae]val republics of Italy, and in
more recent times by the pope.
[1913 Webster]
2. A name popularly given to any flag which hangs from a
crosspiece or frame instead of from the staff or the mast
itself.
[1913 Webster]
Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and rear,
Stream in the air. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]