banner
UK[ˈbænə(r)]US[ˈbænər]
n
a long piece of cloth with a message on it, often stretched between two poles and carried by people in a march or demonstration.
n
a heading or advertisement displayed across the top of a webpage or in an online advertisement.
n
something that represents a particular cause, principle, or belief.
Etymology
the word 'banner' entered english in the 13th century from the old french 'baniere', meaning a flag or standard. this old french term itself evolved from the late latin 'bandum', a word of germanic origin meaning a standard or flag. the germanic root is likely related to the gothic 'bandwa', meaning a sign or token, which traces back to the proto-indo-european root bʰeh₂- meaning 'to shine' or 'appear'. the semantic journey moved from a general concept of a visible sign or signal to the specific modern meanings of a cloth flag bearing an emblem and, by extension, a prominent symbol or heading.
Analysis
the word 'banner' is a simplex word derived as a whole from the old french 'baniere'.
Examples
protesters marched through the streets carrying banners demanding action on climate change.
the website's banner featured a special promotion for new subscribers.
the company has long been a banner for ethical business practices in the industry.