An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Banner

by Friedrich Kluge

Banner, masculine, ‘banner, militia,’ from Middle High German baner, more usual banier, baniere, feminine, from French bannière, which has been derived from the stem of Gothic bandwa, bandwô, ‘sign.’ Compare Middle Latin bandum in Paul the Deacon, ‘vexillum quod bandum appellant. See Panier.