A-C
D-F G-J
K-M N-P
Q-S T-V
W-Z
Badge
- see charge
Banner
1. A flag-like cloth draped or stretched between two anchor points,
usually bearing a slogan.
2. A flag with heraldic arms placed on it overall (in other words,
not in a small shield shape). Often called a heraldic banner. The
U.S. state of Maryland is an example.
3. Poetically, any flag carried by a military force.
Battle
Flag
Carried by armed forces on land.
Battle
Streamer
Attached to the flag of a military unit, names battles or campaigns
where the unit served with distinction.
Bend
On
To attach signal flag to a halyard.
Bicolor
A flag of two colors, usually in equal fields. Bicolors are generally
horizontal (such as Ukraine or San Marino) or vertical (such as Malta
or the Vatican). The colors are listed top or hoist first (e.g., blue-yellow,
for Ukraine).
Bordering
A mostly obsolete practice of edging a flag in a different color than
the field, either for decorative purposes or to prevent fraying.
Breadth
A British measurement for flags, is 9" (23 cm) wide. A four breath-flag
is 36" (91 cm) wide. The term originated when flag cloth was
made in 9" strips.
Bunting
Cloth decorated with the national colors. The term is also used for
the woollen cloth used in making flags.
Burgee
A tapered flag or pennant, often used by a sailing club, that ends
in a swallowtail of two points.
Canadian
Pale
A pale in the shape of a square, as used on the Canadian flag.
Canton
The upper corner of a flag next to the staff where a special design,
such as a union, appears.
Charge
An emblem, object, device, or design superimposed on the field(s)
of a flag. A coat of arms or simple heraldic device used as a charge
is sometimes called a badge.
Civil
Flag
The official (or unofficial) flag of the country used by the people,
perhaps public flag would be clearer. As opposed to the state flag
reserved for the government or the military. A civil ensign is a flag
used at sea by private (or any non-government) ships - Nathan Augustine,
1996-09-27.
Color
1. In heraldry, any hue which is not a metal.
2. A flag carried by a military unit as a unit or national identification.
Military forces of English-speaking countries often carry a pair of
colors, one national or royal and the other of the unit itself. As
distinguished from a standard, a color is used by foot units.
French - drapeau
Spanish - bandera (de regimiento)
German - Fahne or Truppenfahne
Italian - bandiera
Russian - znamya
Danish - fane
Dutch - vaandel (Netherlands), vlag (Belgium)
Swedish - segerfanan
Romanian - drapelul de lupta
Commission
Pennant
(also known as Masthead Pennant).
A very long and narrowpennant flown from the main mast of a naval
vessel, used to indicate the public character of a ship, also called
a commissioning pennant, masthead pennant, narrow pennant, coachwhip
pennant.
French - flamme de guerre
Spanish - gallardete
Russian - vympel
Portuguese - flãmula
Cornet
Somewhat similar to a cavalry guidon or standard, i.e. a small perhaps
swallow-tailed flag. "Cornet" was an 18th-century junior
cavalry officer's rank, e.g. in the Russian Army; the cornet bore
the regimental standard. In like manner, the infantry rank of "ensign"
applied to the junior officer who carried the regimental colors. Tom
Gregg, 6 August 1997
a) A
term prevalent in the 17-18thC for small swallow-tailed flags;
b) Alternative
to GUIDON as a term for the standard of a cavalry regiment;
c) Cavalry
officer responsible for the standard - from a report entitled "The
Dictionary of Flag Terminology", by William Crampton, Convenor;
David Lister; Louis Loynes; and Miss P.M. Moyce, submitted to the
Flag Section of the Heraldry Society of Great Britain (later to become
the Flag Institute).
Courtesy
Flag
The national flag of the country a merchant ship or yacht visits,
hoisted as the ship enters port.
A-C
D-F G-J
K-M N-P
Q-S T-V
W-Z