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Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Surfing Flag - Symmetrical Outwardly Stepped)

Last modified: 2024-09-07 by rob raeside
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SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)
See ‘beach flag’.

surfing flags surfing flags
Surfing Flag UK and Surfing Pennant France (fotw)


SURMOUNTED BY
1) In vexillology a term that may be used when one charge is placed above or at the top of another – but see ‘above 1)’ (also ‘charge 1)’ and ‘topped 1)’).
2) In heraldry the term used when an ordinary or a charge (or charges) is (or are) placed over – that is in front of – another as per the examples given below, and which generally (although not exclusively) touches the field – but see the notes below, ‘charged 2)’, ‘debruised’ and ‘overall 2)’ (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘throughout’.

surmounted surmounted surmounted
Civil Flag and Ensign of Danzig 1920 – 1939 (fotw); Red Hand Flag of Northern Ireland (fotw); Army Flag, UK (fotw)

Notes
a) With regard to 2) the correct heraldic term for a charge (such as a crown or coronet) placed above rather than over - that is in front of - another is ‘ensigned’ as referenced above.
b) Also please note with regard to 2), it is suggested that a glossary or dictionary or heraldry be consulted with regard to comparative use of the terms "charged", “overall” and “surmounted by”.


SURROGATE FLAG
1) See ‘fictitious flag’.
2) A flag that is introduced as a replacement for one previously in use but now banned.

[surrogate flag] [surrogate flag]
Surrogate/Fictitious flag of the Soviet Army (fotw); Surrogate Civil Ensign 1945, Japan (fotw)


SURTOUT
An alternative heraldic term to overall - see ‘overall 2)’.

[Chκne-Bourg]
Flag of Chκne-Bourg, Switzerland (fotw)


SWAG (or SWAGGED)
See ‘fan’ (also ‘bunting 2)’).

[fan]


SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)
1) A V-shaped cut in the fly of a flag or pennant and forming two points - fork/forked tail or fork-tailed - but see 'double pointed' (also ‘crutch’ ‘fly 1)’, ‘indentation(s)’, ‘orthogonal’, ‘palm’, ‘rounded swallow-tail’ and ‘hussar cut’).
2) adj A flag or pennant having such a cut or cuts in the fly (see also ‘swallowtail and tongue’, ‘triangular-tongued’ and ‘triple-tailed 2)’)..

[a swallowtail flag] [a swallowtail flag] [a swallowtail flag]
Naval Ensign of Germany (fotw); Flag Z in the German Signal Code (fotw); State Ensign of Saar, Germany (fotw)


SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE
1) A flag as above, but having a narrower third tail between the other two and so coming to three points at the fly - three-tailed or tongued, or a double- or (inaccurately) triple-swallowtail (see also ‘indentation(s)’ ‘palm’, ‘square-tongued’, ‘tails’, ‘tongue(s) 1)’ and ‘triangular-tongued
2) See ‘triple-tailed 1)’).

[Finnish naval ensign] [a tongued swallowtail]  [Swedish naval ensign]
War Flag/Naval Ensign of Finland (fotw); Flag of Čechy, Slovakia (fotw); Naval Ensign of Sweden (fotw)


SWASTIKA
An ancient symbol in the form of an equal-armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, presently used (running anti-clockwise) as the emblem of a Chinese humanitarian organization founded in 1922 and of the Korean Buddhists, (in a clock-wise form) on some flags of Finland, and until 1945 as the emblem of the German Nazi Party – a crooked/hooked cross, fylfot or cross potent rebated (see also ‘arrow cross’, ‘cross 2)’, ‘rune(s)’ and ‘sun cross’).

[Germany 1933] [swastika examples] [swastika]
National Flag, Germany 1933-45; China and Korea (CS); National Socialist White People's Party 1976, US (fotw)


SWORD
A sharp-edged weapon consisting of a blade and a hilt (handle); it will usually be equipped with a full or partial handguard and in some cases also a pommel. Swords vary much with period and region, although in general (vexillological) use the name largely (but by no means exclusively) refers to a medieval-type weapon having a straight double-edged blade, with a hilt, cross-guard and pommel, and based upon a classical Roman short-sword – the gladius – but see ‘sabre’, ‘scimitar’ and ‘zulfikar’ (also ‘hilted’ and ‘pommeled’).

[sword] [sword] [sword]
Flag of Chavusy, Belarus (fotw); Flag of Haegebostad, Norway (fotw); Flag of the Army, UK (fotw)

Please note that the many types of sword are beyond the remit of this dictionary, and it is suggested that a suitable source be consulted if further details are required.


SWORD CROSS
See ‘cross fitchy’ and ‘cross of Santiago’.

[sword cross] [sword cross] [sword cross]
Flag of Laranjeiro, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Wilstedt, Germany (fotw); Flag of Vagos, Portugal (fotw)


SWORD FLAMANT
See ‘flaming sword’.

[sword flamant]
Flag of Sγo Miguel de Acha, Portugal (fotw)


SWORD KNOT
See ‘dress knot’.

[dress knot]
Officer’s Sword/Dress Knot, USN and USCG (marlowwhite.com)


SWORD OF ALI
See ‘zulfikar’.

Bey of Tunis
Standard of the Bey of Tunis c1860 - 1957 (fotw)


SYMBOL
1) Generically, the vexilloid, flag, coat of arms, emblem or badge that may be considered representative or symbolic of a nation, region, municipality, people, organization or cause – see ‘badge 1)’, ‘coat of arms 1), ‘emblem 1)’, ‘emblem, military or governmental’, ‘emblem, state or national’, ‘vexilloid 1)’ and ‘vexilloid 1)’.
2) Specifically, see ‘Logo 1)’.

[Nordic Council] [symbol] [PANAM]
Former Flag of the Nordic Council (fotw); Flag of Apple Inc., US (fotw); Flag of Pan American World Airways (fotw)


SYMBOLS OF DISGRACE
In heraldry see ‘abatements’.

[PANAM]
Lion couard denoting cowardice or dishonour (Wikipedia)


SYMBOLS OF THE STATE OF
See ‘state symbols’.

[New Mexico state symbol] [New Mexico state symbol] [New Mexico state symbol]
Some Symbols of the State of New Mexico, US (fotw, ICH and CS)


SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED
See ‘stepped gonfalon’.

stepped gonfalons stepped gonfalons


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