bandoleer, -ier
(bændəˈlɪə(r))
Forms: 6 bandollier, -dileare, 6–7 bande-, 7 bandileer(e, -leir, -lier, bandlier, bandooleer(e, -leir, -lier, 8 bandaleer, 6–9 bandalier, 7–9 bandelier, 7– bandoleer, -ier, Also, 7 bandileero, -iliero, -aliero.
[a. F. bandouillere (Cotgr. 1611), mod. bandoulière; from It. bandoliera, or Sp. bandolera, f. bandola, dim. of banda band. With the forms in -ero, cf. -ado2.]
† 1. A broad belt, worn over the shoulder and across the breast, by which a wallet might be suspended at the side. Obs.
| a 1577 Gascoigne Flowers, Herbs, etc. (1587) 186 As Bandolliers for who in mountains dwelles. a 1626 Middleton Black Bk. Wks. V. 517, I threw mine arms, like a scarf or bandileer, cross the lieutenants melancholy bosom. 1634 Heywood Witches of Lanc. ii. Wks. 1874 IV. 201, I have..this my bandileer of bottles, to fill to night. 1767 Ducarel Anglo-Norm. Antiq. 47 Their surplices covered with Bandaleer's of flowers. |
| transf. or fig. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas (1608) 370 Three thousand times the sun Hath gallopt round Heaven's golden bandeleer. |
2. esp. A belt of this kind worn by soldiers;
orig. it helped to support the musket, and had also attached twelve little cases, each containing a charge for the musket;
later, a shoulder-belt fitted with little loops, in which cartridges are suspended.
| 1596 Unton Invent. 3 Six musketts with bandileares. 1622 F. Markham Bk. Warre i. ix. 3 To this Bandiliere shall bee fastened by long double strings, that they may with more ease be brought to the mouth of the musquet, one large priming charge..and at least twelve other charges. 1672 Chas. II. Warrant 2 Apr., One matchlocke musquet, with a collar of bandaliero. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ. (1774) I. 321 A rusty old sword, and a bandoleer. 1818 Scott Leg. Montrose ii, A bandelier containing his charges of ammunition. 1885 Daily News 20 Feb. 5/6 Mounted infantry..in..Khaki helmets, puggarees, bandoliers. |
3. By transference: in
sing. One of the cases or boxes containing a charge for the musket; hence used in
pl. as
= prec.| 1611 Cotgr., Bandovilleres, a musketiers bandooleers; or charges like little boxes, hanging at a belt about his necke. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia iv. 160 Master Argent had put his Bandileir of powder in his hat. a 1659 Cleveland Wks. 30 Like Cartrages, or Linnen Bandileers Exhausted of their Sulphurous Contents. 1728 Fielding Love in Masques Wks. 1775 I. 76 Get down my broad-sword and bandaliers. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xii, ‘He was in his bandaliers to hae joined the ungracious Highlanders in 1715.’ |