Dictionary of Vexillology: M (Mullet - Mythological Creatures)

Last modified: 2022-04-16 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

• MULLET
• MULTI-STRIPE
• MULTI-TAILED (or TONGUED)
• MULTI-TAILED DESCATE
• MUNICIPAL ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)
• MUNICIPAL CROWN
• MUNICIPAL FLAG
• MURAL CROWN
• MURREY
• MYTHICAL FLAG
• MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES

MULLET

The heraldic term for a usually geometric charge in the form of a star that usually (but not exclusively) has five or six radiating points – but see ‘rowel’ and ‘estoile’ (also ‘star 1)’, ‘sun in splendour’ and ‘wavy’.

Flag of Orzens, Switzerland (fotw); Arms of Medjimurje, Croatia (fotw); Flag of Valais, Switzerland (fotw)

Please note, we suggest that a glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted regarding the terms given above.

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MULTI-STRIPE

A flag of four or more parallel stripes or bands, whether plain or defaced, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, and of equal or unequal width (see also ‘barry’, ‘bendy’, ‘covering’, ‘paly’, ‘partially covering’, ‘defaced’, ‘plain 2)’, ‘rainbow flag’, ‘stripe’ and ‘striped’).

National Flag of Costa Rica (fotw); National Flag of the Central African Republic (fotw); Flag of Friesland, Netherlands (fotw).

Please note that flags bearing a fimbriated stripe (such as that on the flag of Gambia where the flanking stripes are narrower than the outer ones) should not be considered as multi-stripes, but as fimbriated tricolours - see 'fimbriated tricolour' (also ‘fimbriation’, ‘stripe’ and ‘tricolour’ ).

National of Gambia (fotw)

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MULTI-TAILED (or TONGUED)

(adj) The terms used to describe a fly that is cut into more than three tails or tongues (see also ‘gonfanon’, ‘square-tongued’, ‘swallowtail and tongue’ and tails).

War and Merchant Flag of the Republic of Venice c1750 (fotw)

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MULTI-TAILED DESCATE

(adj) The term used to describe a fly that is cut into more than three tails with rounded ends (see also ‘double-tailed descate’, ‘fly’, ‘gonfanon’, square-tailed', ‘swallow-tail(ed)’ ‘swallowtail and tongue’ and tails).

Cavalry flag c. 1150, Spain (fotw)

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MUNICIPAL ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)

See ‘civic arms’.

Arms of Bilov, Czechia (fotw)

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MUNICIPAL CROWN

See ‘mural crown 1)’.

Flag of Versailles, France (fotw)

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MUNICIPAL FLAG

See ‘civic flag 1))’.

 
Flag of Bilov, Czechia (fotw)

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MURAL CROWN

1) Generically and in European heraldry, the heraldic term for a coronet composed of battlemented walls showing masonry and generally from three to five towers, usually (but not exclusively) representative of a municipality or urban area - a civic, municipal or urban crown – but see 2) and the note below (also ‘astral crown’, ‘coronet’, ‘crown’, ‘crown of arms’, ‘hamburgian coronet’, ‘leafy crown’, ‘naval crown’, and ‘provincial crown’).

2) Specifically the heraldic term for a coronet with masoned, battlemented walls but without towers, often representative of a town or city and reputedly based on an ancient Roman triumphal ornament - but see ‘civic crown 1)’ (also ‘astral crown’, ‘coronet’, ‘crown’) and ‘naval crown’.

Flag of Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal (fotw); National Arms of Spain 1931 – 1939 (fotw); Flag of Évora, Portugal (fotw)

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MURREY

The heraldic term for the colour mulberry-red - see ‘shades of tincture’.

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MYTHICAL FLAG

1) See ‘suppositious flag’.
2) A newly introduced term that also covers the design of a historical flag which is based upon anecdotal evidence only – but see 1) above (also ‘raven flag’).

Mythical/Suppositious State Flag of Mississippi 1861 – 1865 (fotw); Mythical Civil Flag of the US (fotw)

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MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES

See ‘heraldic beasts’.

Flag of Perugia, Italy (fotw); Flag of Skiptvet, Norway (fotw); Flag of Kuzhenersky, Russia (fotw)

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