Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Draconarius

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

DRACONA'RIUS. The ensign, or standard bearer of a military cohort, who carried the draco, or dragon represented in the preceding wood-cut. (Ammian. xx. 4. 18. Veg. Mil. ii. 7. and 13.) Ensigns of this description are frequently represented on the Columns of Trajan and Antonine amongst the barbarian troops, but not in the Roman armies, though they were introduced into them about the time of Trajan. It is from this word that the modern name of dragoon originated, meaning in its original sense a cavalry soldier, who followed the ensign of a dragon.