vexillum

A usually square banner hung from a crossbar on a staff, used as a military standard in ancient Rome.

The weblike part of a feather; the vane.

In Roman antiquity: Strictly, the standard of a maniple; hence, any military standard, whatever its character, except the eagle of the legion.

The troops collected under a vexillum; a company; a troop; any body of soldiers serving under an ensign separate from that of the legion; hence, under the empire, the body of veteran soldiers connected with a legion who, having served sixteen years in the legion, were detached under a vexillum of their own, with special privileges, for their remaining four years of service. These vexilla averaged from 500 to 600 in strength.

Eccles.: A processional banner; also, a processional cross.

A kind of flag or pennon attached by a cord to the upper part of a bishop’s pastoral Staff.

In heraldry, same as banderole, .

In botany, the standard, or large posterior petal, of a papilionaceous flower. It is external, and wrapped around the others in the bud. Also vexil. See cut under papilionaceous.

In ornithology, a pogonium. web, or vane of a feather; also, both webs together with the rachis upon which they are borne. Also called standard.