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Dictionary of Vexillology: H (Head - Hissflagge)

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HEAD
HEAD, FLAGSTAFF
HEADING (or HEADER)
HEADQUARTERS FLAG
HEADSTICK
HEIGHT
HELM (or HELMET)
HERALDIC BANNER
HERALDIC BEASTS
HERALDIC LILY
HERALDIC STANDARD
HERALDRY
HILTED (or HILT)
HINOMARU (or HI-NO-MARU)
HIS MAJESTY’S JACK
HISSFLAGGE (or HISSFAHNE)

HEAD

See ‘hoist 1)’ (also ‘heading’ and ‘masthead’).

HEAD, FLAGSTAFF

The topmost point of a flagstaff from which a flag can be flown, and which lies below the cap or finial - see ‘finial’.

HEADING (or HEADER)

A piece of heavy material, usually canvas or double-ply bunting, along the hoist edge of a flag, into which a rope is sewn as the hoistline, or into which grommets are inserted to facilitate the hoisting of a flag - a hoist strip (see also ‘sleeve 2)’, ‘hoistline’, ‘grommet 1)’ and ‘hoist 1)’).

Please note that the increasingly (but by no means entirely) obsolete practice of fixing a flag to its pole or staff by a series of attached loops is almost certainly based on the earlier use of ties – see ‘loops’ (also ‘ring 4)’ and ‘ties’).

HEADQUARTERS FLAG

1) See ‘camp flag’.

2) In US military, naval and some other usage, the rank flag of a commanding officer when flown from their headquarters ashore – a designating (of headquarters) flag (see also ‘rank flag 1)’ and ‘flag of command’).

HEADSTICK

In largely naval usage a short piece of wood sewn into the top of a flag’s heading to allow the Inglefield clip to be attached about five cm from the top, thus permitting the flag to be hoisted right up to the truck, while enabling the top hoist corner of the flag to remain straight and upright – but see ‘frame 2)’ (also ‘Appendix I’, ‘Inglefield clip’ and ‘truck’).

HEIGHT

1) The vertical measurement of an emblem, shield, charge or badge when detailing the dimensions - but see ‘width 3)’ (also ‘dimensions’ and ‘width across’)

2) see ‘width 1)’

HELM (or HELMET)

The metal headpiece from a suit of armour usually ensigned above the shield in a coat of arms or set of armorial bearings, but sometimes seen as a separate charge (see also ‘Appendix IV’, ‘armorial bearings’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘crest 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘shield’ and ‘wreath 2)’).

Please note that in English heraldry the style and positioning of a helm varies according to the rank of the bearer, and it is suggested that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted for full details.

Arms of Sir Winston Churchill (Official Website); Flag and arms of Josipdol, Croatia (fotw and CS); Flag of Ozerna, Ukraine (fotw); Flag of Hejtmánkovice, Czech Republic (fotw)

HERALDIC BANNER

A banner of arms - see ‘banner of arms’ (also ‘armorial banner 2)’).

Heraldic Banner and Arms of Kyiv, Ukraine (fotw)

HERALDIC BEASTS

The animals, birds and mythological creatures used as supporters and/or charges in a set of armorial bearings, or on a banner of arms or a flag - but see note below (also 'armorial bearings', ‘banner of arms’, and 'supporters').

Banner of Arms of Balzers, Liechtenstein (fotw); Presidential Flag of Lithuania (fotw)

Please note that it is beyond the scope of this work to list all the animals traditionally used in heraldry, and for these a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary should be consulted, however, the basic attitudes in which all such animals may be found (or presented) on a shield or banner of arms are listed in Appendix V.

HERALDIC LILY

See ‘fleur-de-lis’.

Flag of Mesen, Belgium (fotw)

HERALDIC STANDARD

See ‘standard 3)’ and ‘standard 4)’.

Heraldic standard of the Master Gunner St James’ Park UK (Graham Bartram)

HERALDRY

The science concerned with the designing, interpretation, recording and blazoning of those armorial bearings and/or heraldic insignia that pertain to an individual, an institution or to a corporate entity (see also ‘anti-heraldry’, ‘armorial bearings’, ‘blazon’, ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘insignia’ and ‘pre-heraldic’).

HILTED (or HILT)

The heraldic term used when the grip, pommel and cross/hand guard of a sword or dagger are of a different tincture to its blade – but see note below and ‘hafted’ (also ‘barbed’, ‘garnished’, ‘shafted’ and ‘tincture’).

Flag of Karelia, Finland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Barilovic, Croatia (fotw); Flag of Fabianki, Poland (fotw)

Please note that heraldic writers will sometimes blazon the hilt and the pommel (of a sword or dagger) separately when describing the charges on a coat of arms, particularly (but not exclusively) when the cross guard is of the same tincture as the blade.

(Parker)

HINOMARU (or HI-NO-MARU)

Literally “sun-disk” and the current national flag of Japan (see also ‘daimyo flags’ ‘disc’, and ‘mon’).

National Flag of Japan (fotw)

HIS MAJESTY’S JACK

In English RN usage now obsolete, an official term for the 1606 pattern union flag when flown as a naval jack, and in use from c1640 – c1690 – the king’s jack or the jack – but see ‘British flag’ (also ‘interlaced’, ‘naval jack’ under ‘jack’, ‘James Union’ and ‘union jack 2)’).

Union Flag 1601 - 1801, UK (CS)

HISSFLAGGE (or HISSFAHNE)

See ‘hoisted flag’.

Hissflagge and Banner of Albisheim, Germany (fotw)

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