- ABASED
- (adv) A heraldic term for when the main ordinary on a shield, banner of
arms or flag is placed in a lower position than is usual - lowered (see also
banner of arms, enhanced and
ordinary).
![[abased example]](../images/v/vxt-d006.gif)
![[abased example]](../images/v/vxt-d006a.gif)
![[abased example]](../images/v/vxt-d006b.gif)
![[abased example]](../images/v/vxt-d006c.gif)
From left: Examples (4); Flag of Olszyna, Poland (Jarig Bakker)
- ABEYANCE
- See in abeyance.
![[abeyance]](../images/v/vxt-d1914.gif)
Former First Class Commodores Broad Pennant, UK (fotw)
- ABOVE
- See ensigned and
surmounted by 1).
![[above]](../images/v/vxt-d1630.gif)
National Arms of Croatia (fotw)
- ABSENCE (or ABSENTEE) PENNANT (or FLAG)
- 1) In widespread naval usage, one of four pennants (the first to the fourth
substitute in the NATO Code of Signals) displayed (from the port or starboard yardarm) in
port when the commanding officer of a ship
or the flag officer or civil official whose flag has been flying in that ship is temporarily
absent from the vessel (see also
'international code of signal flags,
international code of signals and
substitute).
- 2) See owner absent flag.
![[absence example]](../images/v/vxt-d008.gif)
From left: First Substitute (Flag Officer Absent),
Second Substitute (Chief of Staff Absent), Third Substitute (Captain Absent),
Fourth Substitute (Civil/Military Official Absent)
- ACCOLΙ
- See gorged.
![[accolle example]](../images/v/vxt-d029.gif)
Flag of Elgg, Switzerland
- ACCORNΙ
- See attired.
![[accorne example]](../images/v/vxt-d031.gif)
![[accorne example]](../images/v/vxt-d033.gif)
Flag of Blνejov, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of
Gδvleborg, Sweden (fotw)
- ACCRETION
- A term sometimes used by textile experts involved in fabric conservation,
and describes the soiling, mildew damage or other defects that occur on the surface
of a flag.
- ACHIEVEMENT (OF ARMS)
- 1) See armorial bearings.
- 2) All the armorial bearings of a deceased person as displayed at that persons
funeral a funeral achievement or hatchment (see also
armorial bearings,
badge banner,
bannerole,
coat of arms,
great banner
and grumphion).
![[Churchill arms]](../images/v/vxt-d890.gif)
The Achievement of Arms/Armorial Bearings of the Late Sir Winston Churchill, UK
(Churchill Society)
Please note with regard to 2) that if all the armorial bearings of a deceased person are displayed on a
flag they become a great banner, or if less than all a bannerole, both as referenced above.
- ACTION PENNANT
- See paying off pennant.
- ACTIVE
- In vexillology a term that may be used to describe when the rays
of a star or sun emblem, or a radiating stripe, are shown with undulating or wavy curves see
active and inactive below and
inactive
(also radiating,
rays 1),
star and its following note,
sunburst,
sun emblem and
wavy).
![[active example]](../images/v/vxt-d553.gif)
![[active example]](../images/v/vxt-d1730.gif)
National
Flag of Kyrgyzstan (fotw);
Flag of Pernambuco, Brazil (fotw)
- ACTIVE AND INACTIVE
- In vexillology a term that may be used to describe when the rays of a star or sun
emblem are shown with alternating wavy and straight rays but see
sun-in-splendour
(also active above,
inactive,
rays 1),
star and its following note,
sunburst,
sun emblem and
wavy).
![[Active/Inactive example]](../images/v/vxt-d564.gif)
![[Active/Inactive example]](../images/v/vxt-d2001.gif)
![[Active/Inactive]](../images/v/vxt-d564a.gif)
![[Active/Inactive example]](../images/v/vxt-d2002.gif)
The Sun and Star of May, with the National Flags of
Argentina and Uruguay (fotw)
- ADDITION(S) OF HONOUR (or HONOR)
- See augmentation of honour.
Arms of Malta 1943 - 1964
- ADDORSED
- 1) See appendix V.
- 2) The heraldic term also used when two charges are turned outwards - endorsed (see also
charge 1)).
Flag and Arms of Turośń Kościelna, Poland (Jarig Bakker);
Flag of Sugnens, Switzerland (fotw);
Flag and Arms of Kolov, Czech Republic (fotw);
Flag of Dorneck, Switzerland (fotw)
- ADORNED
- 1) See garnished.
2) The heraldic term that may be used in place of garnished when a hat, or other
item of clothing is decorated in a different tincture (see also tincture
and vested).
Flag of St Blaise, Switzerland (fotw);
Flag of Bargen, Switzerland (fotw)
- ADDRESS GROUP
- In US naval usage and in some others, the group of signal flags displayed by a vessel with
a flag officer or unit commander embarked, and flown (together with a call sign hoist) when
entering or leaving harbour - see
call sign hoist
(also signal flag and
signal hoist).
Address Group of the Commander, Second Fleet, US (Sea Flags)
- ADMIRAL'S FLAG
- See flag of command 1).
Command Flags of an Admiral and Vice-Admiral, Austria-Hungary 1894 1915 (fotw)
- ADMIRALTY CROWN
- An alternative British term for the naval crown - see naval crown.
Flag of the Sea Scouts, UK (fotw)
- ADMIRALTY FLAG
- 1) Specifically in UK usage see anchor flag and its following note
(also fouled anchor).
2) Generically the flag, usually (but not exclusively) flown ashore, which represents a maritime authority
(see also state ensign 2)).
Flag of the Admiralty, Brazil (fotw); Flag of the Admiralty; Thailand (fotw);
Flag of the Admiralty 1710 1802, Russia (fotw)
- ADMIRALTY WARRANT
- See warrant and its following note.
The Channel Islands Yacht Club Ensign Established by Admiralty Warrant
(Graham Bartram)
- ADVANCE THE COLOUR/COLOURS (or COLOR/COLORS)
- (v) A military term originally for moving a flag forward towards an enemy,
and now used on ceremonial occasions as a command to parade the colour(s) forward
(see also colour 2),
colours 2), and
parade flag).
- ADVENT CROSS
- See cross tau in appendix VIII.
Flag of St. Antφnien, Switzerland (fotw)
- ADVERTISING BANNER
- See banner 4).
![[advertising banner]](../images/v/vxt-d577.gif)
- ADVERTISING PULLDOWN (or PULL-DOWN)
- See pulldown.
- AFFRONTANT (or AFFRONTΙ)
- See respectant in appendix V.
![[affrontant example]](../images/v/vxt-d554.gif)
Flag of Marrum/Westernijkerk, The Netherlands (fotw)
- AFFRONTY
- 1) See appendix V.
- 2) The heraldic term also used when a charge, such as a helmet, house or ship, is shown with
its front towards the observer.
Flag of Hersberg, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Oberφnz, Switzerland
With regard to 1) please note this term is not to be confused with affrontant
see respectant and its following note in appendix V.
- AFLAME
- A term sometimes (incorrectly) used in place of the heraldic term inflamed or its alternatives see
inflamed.
![[aflame example]](../images/v/vxt-d1323.gif)
![[aflame example]](../images/v/vxt-d1323a.gif)
Arms and Flag of Vimeiro, Portugal (Sergio Horta)
- AFRO-AMERICAN FLAG (or COLOURS)
- See Garvey colours.
Marcus Garveys Flag 1917 (fotw); An Afro-American Flag (Tomislav Todorovic)
- AGNUS DEI
- A Latin term meaning the Lamb of God - this is sometimes shown with a halo or nimbus around its head, but always holding
a crossed staff or crosier (and often decorated with a flag or banner) the Holy Lamb or Lamb of God
(see also nimbus).
Flag of Kunovice, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of Gotland, Sweden (fotw);
Arms and flag of Preston, UK (fotw); Arms and Flag of Knin, Croatia (fotw)
- AIGUILLETTE
- Loops of ornamental braided cord with tassels, and worn from the right or left shoulder
of (usually but not invariably) military uniforms to signify a special status or service
see flag adjutant
(also cord(s)
dress knot) and
lanyard 1))
Officers of the Household Cavalry, UK (Wikipedia)
- AIR FORCE (or AIRFORCE) FLAG (or ENSIGN)
- See branch of service flag
(also armed services flag and
ensign 2)).
Air Force Flag, Belarus (fotw);
Air Force Ensign, UK (fotw);
Air Force Flag, US (fotw)
- AIR MAIL (or AIRMAIL) FLAG (or PENNANT)
- A flag or pennant, now obsolete, originally designed to fly (sometimes alongside a civil air ensign)
from an aircraft carrying mail (see also postal flag and
civil air ensign)
US Air mail Flag (Joe Macmillan); Royal Air Mail Pennant, UK (fotw)
- AIRCRAFT INSIGNIA
- 1) Specifically in US military usage, the term that refers to markings of
identification on the tail plane/fin of primarily (but not exclusively)
military aircraft (see also
roundel 1)).
2) Generically see aircraft marking(s) 1).
Please note with regard to 1), that US military aircraft have not carried a fin
flash - an emblem of national identity - on their tail planes since 1942
see fin flash
- AIRCRAFT MARKING(S)
- In UK and some other usage, a collective term for the markings of nationality and
identification on the wings, fuselage and tail plane/fin of primarily (but not exclusively)
military aircraft but see fin flash
and roundel 1) (also
aircraft insignia above,
fuselage markings 1) and
wing marking(s) 1))).
Roundel and Fin Flash for Combat Aircraft, UK; Roundel and Fin Flash, France c1917;
Roundel and Fin Flash, Dominican Republic (fotw)
- AIRFIELD (or AIRPORT) SAFETY (or AIRFIELD/AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION) FLAG
- In largely US usage the square, orange and white-checkered safety flag mandated by the
US Federal Aviation Administration for the marking of construction vehicles and jobsite
obstructions/hazards at airports. (see also checky).
- AIR RECOGNITION DEVICE(S)
- See fin flash and roundel 1)
(also aircraft marking(s)).
Roundel and Fin flash, Greece (fotw)
