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Dictionary of Vexillology: W (Waft – West-South Diagonal)

On this page:

WAFT
WALKING STAFF
WANDERFAHNE
WAND OF HERMES (or MERCURY)
WANING OR WAXING MOON
WAR BANNER
WAR ENSIGN/FLAG
WAR (or WARSHIP) PENNANT
WAR WAGON
WARNING FLAG
WARRANT
WARRANT OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (or OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL)
WASHFASTNESS
WATER-POURING (WATER-GUSHING or WATERSPOUT) FOUNTAIN
WATERWHEEL (WATER-WHEEL)
WATTLE(D)
WAVY
WAVY FLAME
WAXING or WANING MOON
WAYSIDE CROSS
WEAR A FLAG
WEATHER (or WEATHER-WARNING) FLAG (or PENNANT)
WEATHER VANE
WEAVER'S (or WEAVING) SHUTTLE
WEDGE
WEDGE WAVY
WEFT
WEIGHTED FLY
WELSH (or WALES) PENNANT
WEST-EAST DIAGONAL
WEST-NORTH DIAGONAL
WEST-SOUTH DIAGONAL

WAFT

1) A term, now obsolete, for a flag tied in a knot and displayed at sea as a signal of some emergency – a wheft or weft (see also ‘flag of distress’) and its following note).
2) (adv) The term may also be used to describe a flag that is tangled or is otherwise disordered.

WALKING STAFF

See baton(s) 3) and pilgrim's staff.

Flag of Glarus canton, Switzerland

WANDERFAHNE

See ‘touring flag’).

Wanderfahne/Touring Flag (eBay)

WAND OF HERMES (or MERCURY)

Alternative heraldic terms to caduceus – see ‘caduceus’.

Flag and Arms of Holwerd, Netherlands

WANING or WAXING MOON

Two terms that, whilst potentially contradictory, are sometimes used to describe the orientation of a crescent moon in place of the more accurate vexillological phrases “with points towards the hoist or towards the fly”, or of their heraldic equivalents “increscent/ increment” or “decrescent/decrement” – see ‘crescent 1)’, ‘moon 1)’ and ‘moon 2)’.

Arms and Flag of Goleniów, Poland

Notes
a) A “waxing moon” in the southern hemisphere looks like a “waning moon” in the northern (or vice-versa), and its orientation depends upon whether the flag is dexter-hoisted in the western tradition or sinister-hoisted as in the Arabic. Therefore, the Editors recommend use of either the vexillological or heraldic terms noted above
b) These terms, whilst not used in modern English heraldry, do occasionally appear in medieval heraldic blazoning.

WAR BANNER

In UK usage a term, last used in 1853 and now obsolete, for a small white triangular flag seen on military drums at a proclamation of war (see also ‘bannerette’).

WAR ENSIGN/FLAG

1) An alternative term for the naval ensign – see ‘naval ensign’.

2) Alternative terms – and translations of the German Kriegsflagge or Spanish bandera de Guerra – for that flag (different from the national flag) flown by a country’s armed services, which is usually (but not invariably) the same design as the naval ensign and/or state flag – a flag of war (see also ‘battle flag 3)’, ‘state flag’, and ‘naval ensign/war ensign’ under ‘ensign’).
3) A variant of the national flag that is used while the country is in a state of war.

War/Naval Ensign 1880–1915, Austria/Hungary; War/Naval Ensign of Singapore; War Flag of Peru

Please note with regard to 3) that in time of war The Philippines fly their National Flag (which also acts as a Naval and Civil Ensign) with the red stripe uppermost thus creating a war flag.

National Flag of The Philippines in War Flag format

WAR (or WARSHIP) PENNANT

See ‘masthead pennant 1)’.

Warship/Masthead Pennant of Venezuela c1920

WAR WAGON

See ‘carrocerum’.

WARNING FLAG

1) See 'red flag 1)'

2) The term, and a direct translation of the German warnflagge, that is also used to describe the red and white flag flown by (slow-moving) snow clearance vehicles (see also ‘beach flag’, ‘fire alert flag’, ‘range flag’ and ‘storm warning flags’).

Warning/Red Flag (CS); Warnflagge (James Dignan)

WARRANT

In UK usage and in some others, the legal instrument by which display/augmentation of a territorial coat of arms or of a flag – usually (but not invariably) in this latter case a defaced version of an established design is authorized (see also ‘blue ensign 1)’ with its following note, ‘defaced’, ‘flag law’, ‘red ensign 1)’ with its following note, ‘royal order in council 1)’, ‘royal proclamation’ and ‘yacht ensign’ under ‘ensign’ with its following note).

Ensign of the Royal Naval Reserve, The Netherlands; Flag of a Lord-Lieutenant, UK; Ensign of The Royal Lymington Yacht Club, UK

Notes
a) Illustrations 1) and 2) above were authorized by Royal Warrant, and 3) by a Warrant of the Admiralty. In addition, such Warrants may be issued by a Governor General or by the UK Minister of Defence (see note b) below).
b) The Board of Admiralty ceased to exist in 1964, and its power to issue (or to withdraw) warrants was transferred to the Minister of Defence – see ‘anchor flag’.

WARRANT OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (or OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL)

See ‘warrant’.

Government Ensign of Guernsey established by Warrant of the Minister of Defence, UK; Flag of the Lt Governor of Saskatchewan Canada authorized by Warrant of the Governor General

WASHFASTNESS

See ‘fastness’.

WATER-POURING (WATER-GUSHING or WATERSPOUT) FOUNTAIN

See ‘fountain 2)’.

Flag of Borne, Germany; Flag of Funtana, Croatia; Flag of Castelo Novo, Portugal

WATERWHEEL (WATER-WHEEL or WATER-MILL WHEEL)

Alternative terms for a representation of a wheel that usually (but not invariably) provides the motive power for the grinding of wheat or other cereal – a riverwheel, water-wheel, water mill wheel or millwheel – see ‘millstone’ (also ‘cog-wheel’, ‘scoop wheel’ and ‘windmill’.

Flag of Slunj, Croatia; Flag of Bromolla, Sweden; Flag of Mississauga, Canada

WATTLE(D)

1) On flags, a plaque, frame or ornament consisting of two or more interlaced branches, and typically used on Croatian flags (see also cartouche and ring).

2) In heraldry, the term refers to the fleshy lobe that grows under the throat of a domestic fowl and in the adjective form is used when the wattle is of a different tincture to the body of the bird concerned – but see jelloped and comb (also tincture).

Flag of Blato, Croatia; Example (Željko Heimer); Flag of La Granjuela, Spain

WAVY

(adj) A basically heraldic term used when the edges of an ordinary/charge, or the division line of the field on a shield, banner of arms or a flag are shown with wavy lines, and often (but not invariably) symbolic of running water – unde or undy (see also ‘active’, ‘banner of arms’, ‘nebuly’, ‘barry wavy’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘serrated’).

Flag of Overijssel, Netherlands; Flag of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Germany; Flag of Saerbeck, Germany

WAVY FLAME

In English then British usage, now obsolete, the term used to describe a pile wavy as it appeared on military colours – see ‘pile(s) wavy’ (also ‘flammes’, ‘pile 2)’, ‘stand 1)’, ‘venn’ and ‘wavy’ ).

Major’s Colour in Venn A, England c1643; Major’s Colour, UK c1710

WAXING or WANING MOON

Two terms that, whilst potentially contradictory, are sometimes used to describe the orientation of a crescent moon in place of the more accurate vexillological phrases “with points towards the hoist or towards the fly”, or of their English heraldic equivalents “increscent/increment” or “decrescent/decrement” – see ‘crescent 1)’, ‘moon 1)’, ‘moon 2)’ and the notes below.

Arms and Flag of Goleniów, Poland

Notes
a) A “waxing moon” in the southern hemisphere looks like a “waning moon” in the northern (or vice versa), and its orientation depends upon whether the flag is dexter-hoisted in the western tradition or sinister-hoisted as in the Arabic. Therefore, the Editors recommend use of either the vexillological or heraldic terms noted above.
b) These terms, whilst not used in modern English heraldry, do occasionally appear in medieval heraldic blazoning.

WAYSIDE CROSS

In often (but not exclusively) South European usage, the term for a cross set upon a (variously designed) plinth, and intended as a focus for the spiritual comfort of travellers – but see cross of calvary 1).

Flag of Eiriz, Portugal; Flag of Santa Maria e Meixedo, Portugal; Flag of Remondes e Soutelo, Portugal

WEAR A FLAG

(v) To display a flag – said of a ship or any vessel (see also ‘ensign 1)’ and ‘fly 2)’).

National Ensign/Flag of Liberia; Naval Ensign of Malaysia; Yacht Ensign of the USA

WEATHER (or WEATHER-WARNING) FLAG (or PENNANT)

1) See ‘storm warning flag’ (also ‘beach flag’).
2) In Japanese usage now obsolete, flags or pennants flown prominently in urban areas to advise of anticipated weather conditions (see also ‘safety flag’.

Clear sky, Japan (Miles Li); Loading/Unloading of Cargo Suspended, Chile; Small Craft Warning, US

WEATHER VANE

See ‘vane 4)’.

WEAVER'S (or WEAVING) SHUTTLE

The representation of a wood and metal device used in the (hand or mechanical) weaving process – a shuttle or weaving shuttle, or (incorrectly) a spinning shuttle; (see also spinning wheel).

Flag of Ozorków, Poland; Flag of Roubaix, France; Flag of Zetel, Germany

WEDGE

See ‘pile 3)’.

Colour of the Hamburg State Police c1936–1945, Germany

WEDGE WAVY

See ‘piles(s) wavy 1)’.

Colour of the 46th Regiment of Foot c1750, Prussia

WEFT

1) See ‘waft’.
2) The term used in weaving to describe those yarns attached to a movable shuttle, and which run alternately above and below those fixed to the loom (the warp).

WEIGHTED FLY

A term which may be used when a metal rod (or similar) is inserted into a sleeve placed at the fly of a conventional/hoisted flag (intended to he hung from a horizontal pole) in order to weight it for vertical hanging and to prevent the flag becoming entangled with its pole (see also ‘flagpole’, ‘hoisted flag’, ‘outrigger pole’ and ‘tangle rod’).

Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no existing established term could be found.

WELSH (or WALES) PENNANT

In UK usage, the terms employed to describe a white over green trapezoidal (bicolour) pennant with a Welsh dragon set towards the hoist, which may be flown where a flagpole would otherwise be unused – a Pennant of Wales (see also ‘bicolour 2)’, ‘dragon’, ‘English pennant’, ‘hoist 1)’, ‘offset towards’, ‘pennant’, ‘Scottish pennant’, ‘trapezoid 2)’, ‘union pennant’ and ‘wimpel 1)’).

WEST-EAST DIAGONAL

A diagonal stripe that runs from the upper hoist to the lower fly whose corners generally touch the corners of the flag but whose width is entirely contained within the width of that flag – a reduced bend – see ‘bend’ and ‘Appendix IX’ (also ‘ascending diagonal’, ‘descending diagonal’, ‘east-west diagonal’, ‘north-east diagonal’, ‘north-south diagonal’, ‘south-east diagonal’, ‘south-north diagonal’, ‘west-north diagonal’ and ‘west-south diagonal’).

National Flag of Brunei; Flag of Prosatín, Czechia

WEST-NORTH DIAGONAL

A diagonal stripe running from the lower hoist to the upper fly, whose corners may (or may not) touch the corners of the flag but whose width is contained within the length of the flag at the fly and the width of the flag at its hoist (see also ‘Appendix IX’, ‘ascending diagonal’, ‘descending diagonal’, ‘east-west diagonal’, ‘north-east diagonal’, ‘north-south diagonal’, ‘south-east diagonal’, ‘south-north diagonal’, ‘west-north diagonal’ ‘west-east diagonal’ and ‘west-south diagonal’).

Flag of Dešná, Czechia; Flag of Lovcice, Czechia

Please note that this term, whilst an extension of those existing and established, has been introduced by the editors.

WEST-SOUTH DIAGONAL

A diagonal stripe running from the upper hoist corner to the lower fly corner, whose corners may (or may not) touch the corners of the flag but whose width is contained within the width of the flag at the hoist and the length of the flag at its fly (see also ‘Appendix IX’, ‘ascending diagonal’, ‘descending diagonal’, ‘east-west diagonal’, ‘north-east diagonal’, ‘north-south diagonal’, ‘south-east diagonal’, ‘south-north diagonal’, and ‘west-north diagonal’).

Flag of Žákava, Czechia; Flag of Makov, Czechia

Please note that this term, whilst an extension of those existing and established, has been introduced by the editors.

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