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fanion (FAN-yuhn) - n., a small flag used by surveyors to mark a position.
Originally used by military scouts. Also apparently used for a safety flag mounted on a bike, as I learned while looking for a picture for this post. Taken around 1700 from French, where it's a diminutive of fanon, a pennon (and used in modern French for any kind of small pennon or pennant), from Old French form fanum, from conjectural Old Low Franconian *fano, piece of fabric.
---L.
Originally used by military scouts. Also apparently used for a safety flag mounted on a bike, as I learned while looking for a picture for this post. Taken around 1700 from French, where it's a diminutive of fanon, a pennon (and used in modern French for any kind of small pennon or pennant), from Old French form fanum, from conjectural Old Low Franconian *fano, piece of fabric.
---L.
