Bān'ner-et, n.

n. [Fr. bannéret, banderet, L. Lat. banneretus. See BANNER.] 1. Originally, a military rank conferred only on such as were able to bring a certain number of vassals into the field; hence, a rank corresponding to this; also, a person sustaining the rank. ☞ The usual mode of conferring the promotion was by cutting or tearing off the point of the pennon or pointed flag on the spear of the candidate, thereby rendering it square; it was often conferred on the field of battle. 2. A small banner. [Obs.] Shak.