Definition of "oriflamme" []

• An inspiring standard or symbol. (noun)
• The red or orange-red flag of the Abbey of Saint Denis in France, used as a standard by the early kings of France. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The oriflamme was a sacred banner used by the kings of France in the Middle Ages in times of great danger."
• "Charlemagne by the pope, but no historical text affords us any information with regard to this oriflamme, which is perhaps fabulous."
• "Viewers rooted for the Virginia kid with shaggy brown hair and glasses, who fidgeted with his hands as he spelled such words as "oriflamme" and "sophrosyne.""