{ Gon"fa*lon (?), 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. gūð) + fano cloth, flag; akin to E. vane; cf. AS. gūðfana. See Vane, and cf. Confalon.] 1. The ensign or standard in use by certain princes or states, such as the mediæval republics of Italy, and in more recent times by the pope.

2. A name popularly given to any flag which hangs from a crosspiece or frame instead of from the staff or the mast itself.

Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and rear,
Stream in the air.