Pennant

Concept in baseball of winning either the American League or National League, before the whole division (and wild-card) concept. The pennant winners used to play in the World Series, but now we have playoffs -- ALDS, NLDS, ALCS, NLCS.

Pen"nant (?), n. [OE. penon, penoun, pynoun, OF. penon, F. pennon, fr. L. penna feather. See Pen a feather, and cf. Pennon, Pinion.] Naut.

1. A small flag; a pennon. The narrow, ∨ long, pennant (called also whip or coach whip) is a long, narrow piece of bunting, carried at the masthead of a government vessel in commission. The board pennant is an oblong, nearly square flag, carried at the masthead of a commodore's vessel.

   "With flags and pennants trimmed." Drayton.

2. A rope or strap to which a purchase is hooked.

© Webster 1913.