Where does “pennant” come from?

Pennant comes from Middle English pynoun, whose origin and meaning remain unknown.

pennant (English): A flag normally used by naval vessels to...

Definitions

  1. A flag normally used by naval vessels to...

Ancestry of “pennant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpenon—
2Old Frenchpenon—
3Latinpennawing; feather, especially a flight-feather;...
4Proto-Italicpetnāfeather; wing
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “pennant”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥ →Every word from Proto-Italic petnā →
pennant — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer