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Webster 1913 Edition

Banneret

Ban′ner-et

,
Noun.
[OE.
baneret
, OF.
baneret
, F.
banneret
; properly a dim. of OF.
baniere
. See
Banner
.]
1.
Originally, a knight who led his vassals into the field under his own banner; – commonly used as a title of rank.
2.
A title of rank, conferred for heroic deeds, and hence, an order of knighthood; also, the person bearing such title or rank.
☞ The usual mode of conferring the rank on the field of battle was by cutting or tearing off the point of the pennon or pointed flag on the spear of the candidate, thereby making it a banner.
3.
A civil officer in some Swiss cantons.
4.
A small banner.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Banneret

BAN'NERET

,
Noun.
A knight made in the field. Bannerets formerly constituted an order of knights or feudal lords, who led their vassals to battle under their own flags. On the day of battle, the candidates presented their flags to the king or general, who cut off the train or skirt, and made it square. They were then called knights of the square flag. They were a middle order between barons and simple knights.

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