A pennant is a long, narrow flag, often triangular in shape and tapering to a point or forked tail. They can be used for various purposes, the most notable being to show support for a sports team or to indicate a signal or status, especially in maritime contexts. In baseball, a pennant also refers to the championship title awarded to the winning team in a league.
What Does the Word ‘Pennant’ Mean?
The word ‘pennant’ has its origins in the Middle French word ‘pennon’, which means flag or banner. This ultimately traces back to the Old French word ‘penon’ meaning small flag or streamer. This Old French word is believed to have originated from the Latin word ‘pennonem’ or ‘pennus’ which means ‘feather’ or ‘wing’.
In its earliest uses in England, the word ‘penant’ referred to the long, narrow flag often flown on ships to signify a specific identity or allegiance. Over time, the term has expanded in its usage to represent flags used in various sports.
Pennant vs Flag: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between flags and pennants is their shape. Flags are typically rectangular or square in shape, with a uniform width and height, whereas pennants are typically long, narrow and triangular, tapering at one end.
Flags are also generally larger than pennants and used for broader displays, usually to represent a country, organisation or specific cause. This is why flags tend to be standardised for official use, with specific rules governing their proportions, colours and symbols. Pennants, however, are less formal and regulated and often feature more stylised and eye-catching designs with bold patterns or symbolic colours.
At Golden Finishes, we have been producing high-quality custom pennants for over 25 years, making us experts in their production. We have even produced football flags and football pennants for the top flight of European leagues, so you can trust our pennants are professional quality and will stand the test of time!
We can take your personal designs and specifications and turn them into personalised pennants that are fit for any occasion.
To find out more about our pennant customisation services, check out our pennants page or get in touch with us today.