A short barbed spear decorated with colorful ribbons, used by banderilleros to plant in a bull's neck during a bullfight.
From Spanish banderilla, diminutive of bandera meaning 'flag.' The word evolved from the flags/banners (bandera) that decorated the original spears used in bullfighting.
The banderilla is one of the most brutal and beautiful parts of bullfighting—those colorful ribbons hide hooks designed to weaken the bull's neck muscles, making it a deadly spectacle dressed up as art!
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