The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Banner \Ban"ner\ (b[a^]n"n[~e]r), n. [OE. banere, OF. baniere,
   F. banni[`e]re, bandi[`e]re, fr. LL. baneria, banderia, fr.
   bandum banner, fr. OHG. bant band, strip of cloth; cf. bindan
   to bind, Goth. bandwa, bandwo, a sign. See Band, n.]
   1. A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a
      crosspiece, and used by a chief as his standard in battle.
      [1913 Webster]

            Hang out our banners on the outward walls. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A large piece of silk or other cloth, with a device or
      motto, extended on a crosspiece, and borne in a
      procession, or suspended in some conspicuous place.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Any flag or standard; as, the star-spangled banner.
      [1913 Webster]

   Banner fish (Zool.), a large fish of the genus
      Histiophorus, of the Swordfish family, having a broad
      bannerlike dorsal fin; the sailfish. One species
      (Histiophorus Americanus) inhabits the North Atlantic.
      [1913 Webster]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (17 December 2009):

banner
burst page
fly page

   1. The title page added to printouts by most print spoolers.
   Typically includes user or account ID information in very
   large character-graphics capitals.  Also called a "burst
   page", because it indicates where to burst (tear apart)
   fanfold paper to separate one user's printout from the next.

   2. A similar printout generated (typically on multiple pages
   of fan-fold paper) from user-specified text, e.g. by a program
   such as Unix's "banner".

   3. splash screen.

   [Jargon File]

   (1994-11-28)


The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

banner
 n.

    1. A top-centered graphic on a web page. Esp. used in banner ad.

    2. On interactive software, a first screen containing a logo and/or author
    credits and/or a copyright notice. Similar to splash screen.

    3. The title page added to printouts by most print spoolers (see spool).
    Typically includes user or account ID information in very large
    character-graphics capitals. Also called a burst page, because it indicates
    where to burst (tear apart) fanfold paper to separate one user's printout
    from the next.

    4. A similar printout generated (typically on multiple pages of fan-fold
    paper) from user-specified text, e.g., by a program such as Unix's banner
    (1,6).


Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Banner
(1.) The flag or banner of the larger kind, serving for three
tribes marching together. These standards, of which there were
four, were worked with embroidery and beautifully ornamented
(Num. 1:52; 2:2, 3, 10, 18, 25; Cant. 2:4; 6:4, 10).

  (2.) The flag borne by each separate tribe, of a smaller form.
Probably it bore on it the name of the tribe to which it
belonged, or some distinguishing device (Num. 2:2,34).

  (3.) A lofty signal-flag, not carried about, but stationary.
It was usually erected on a mountain or other lofty place. As
soon as it was seen the war-trumpets were blown (Ps. 60:4; Isa.
5:26; 11:12; 13:2; 18:3; 30:17; Jer. 4:6 21; Ezek. 27:7).

  (4.) A "sign of fire" (Jer. 6:1) was sometimes used as a
signal.

  The banners and ensigns of the Roman army had idolatrous
images upon them, and hence they are called the "abomination of
desolation" (q.v.). The principal Roman standard, however, was
an eagle. (See Matt. 24:28; Luke 17:37, where the Jewish nation
is compared to a dead body, which the eagles gather together to
devour.)

  God's setting up or giving a banner (Ps. 20:5; 60:4; Cant.
2:4) imports his presence and protection and aid extended to his
people.

U.S. Gazetteer (1990):

Banner, IL (village, FIPS 3571)
  Location: 40.51469 N, 89.91043 W
  Population (1990): 160 (74 housing units)
  Area: 0.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Banner, KY
  Zip code(s): 41603
Banner, MS
  Zip code(s): 38913
Banner, WY
  Zip code(s): 82832

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

164 Moby Thesaurus words for "banner":
   Communist threat, Dannebrog, Jolly Roger, Old Glory,
   Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes, Union Flag, Union Jack,
   Western imperialism, and blue, arch, atrocity story, badge,
   banderole, bang-up, banner head, banneret, battle hymn, black flag,
   bloody shirt, blue ensign, blue-ribbon, bunting, burgee, capital,
   caption, cardinal, central, champion, character, characteristic,
   chief, coachwhip, color, colors, crostarie, crowning, device,
   differentia, dominant, drop head, dropline, earmark, ensign,
   epigraph, expansionism, face, fiery cross, first, first-class,
   first-rate, first-string, flag, focal, foremost, gonfalon,
   gonfanon, great, guidon, hallmark, hanger, head, heading, headline,
   headmost, hegemonic, house flag, idiosyncrasy, image,
   imperialist threat, important, independence, index, indicant,
   indicator, insignia, jack, jump head, keynote, leading, legend,
   long pennant, magisterial, main, manifest destiny, mark,
   martial music, master, measure, memorable, merchant flag,
   momentous, motto, national anthem, national flag, notable, note,
   noteworthy, oriflamme, overline, overruling, paramount,
   peculiarity, pendant, pennant, pennon, pennoncel, picture,
   predominant, preeminent, preponderant, prevailing, primal, primary,
   prime, principal, property, ranking, red, red ensign,
   representation, representative, royal standard, rubric, ruling,
   running head, running title, scarehead, screamer, seal,
   self-determination, sigil, sign, signal, signal flag, signature,
   sovereign, spread, spreadhead, stamp, standard, star, stellar,
   streamer, subhead, subheading, subtitle, supereminent,
   superscription, sure sign, swallowtail, symbol, symptom,
   telltale sign, title, title page, top-notch, topflight, trait,
   tricolor, vexillum, war song, white, yellow peril