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. -ADO 2.]
† 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. Charles II., Warrant, 2 April. 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.’
