/awr"euh flam', or"-/ , n.
1. the red banner of St. Denis, near Paris, carried before the early kings of France as a military ensign.
2. any ensign, banner, or standard, esp. one that serves as a rallying point or symbol.
[ 1425-75; late ME oriflam oriflamme, OF, equiv. to orie golden ( aurea, fem. of aureus, deriv. of aurum gold) + flamme FLAME ]