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bandolier

bandolier

2 9.5
A wide belt worn over the shoulder and across the chest by soldiers to hold bullets
  • noun
  • /ˌbændəˈlɪr/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bandolera
  • All dancers wear mescal bean or German silver bead bandoliers draped over the left shoulder.

They had like tied up all their bandoliers and we're loading mags.

Examples

  • The speaker was dressed as a workman, with bandoliers of tools arrayed across his broad, sturdy frame.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • A basic chest rig or magazine bandolier is simple, light, and effective.

    Blog text (1)
  • Each man shouldered six rifles plus leather bandoliers of bullets.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Preparing to go to the vault, Fester, with cool professionalism, slips his safe-cracking tools into the bandoliers strapped across his chest.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The soldiers adjusted their bandoliers before heading into the battle.

  • He wore a bandolier filled with ammunition across his chest.

  • During the reenactment, the participants donned their bandoliers to carry their prop cartridges.

Synonyms

bandoleer
vsbandolier
  • UK
2 9.9

A wide belt people wear over the shoulder to hold bullets

is the same but spelled differently in some varieties
cartridge belt
vsbandolier
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A wide belt with loops or pockets for carrying bullets

is worn over the shoulder and across the chest rather than at the waist

Surface Forms

bandolier singular
bandoliers plural

Etymology

Bandolier comes from the French bandoulière, a word for a shoulder 'band' or 'sash'. Think of the English word band, a strip you wear, because a bandolier is literally a wide band worn over the shoulder and across the chest to carry bullets.