bandolier

/ˌbændəˈlɪɹ/

Etymology

From earlier form bandollier, from Middle French bandoulliere, from Catalan bandolera, feminine derivative of bandoler (“member of a band of men”), from Catalan bàndol (“band, faction, party”), from Old Spanish bando.

Why this word is great

BANDOLIER — [Noun] An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges. From earlier form bandollier, from Middle French bandoulliere, from Catalan bandolera (feminine derivative of bandoler, "member of a band of men"), from Catalan bàndol ("band, faction, party"), from Old Spanish bando ("proclamation, faction")—a linguistic journey from proclamation to preparedness. Unlike a "baldric" (which carries ceremony) or a "holster" (which conceals), the bandolier is a declaration of intent, its loops gaping like hungry mouths. It is the weight of brass against wool, the clatter of cartridges in motion, the leather creaking with each breath—a wearable arithmetic of violence, counting down toward zero.

noun

  1. An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.“The vivid, untrammeled life appealed to him[…]; but he was wise and knew that once peace was established there would be no room in Cuba for the Sin Verguenza. “None better to face peril or adversity with, but a change is coming, and one cannot always wear the bandolier,” he said.”