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Dictionary of Vexillology: T (Trooping the Colour – Type Flag)

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TROOPING THE COLOUR (or COLOR)
TROPHY FLAG
TRUCK
TRUMPET BANNER
TUFA
TUGH
TWIN SALTIRES
TWO-AND-A-HALF ARMED CROSS
TWO or THREE POINTED
TWO-SIDED
TYPE FLAG

TROOPING THE COLOUR (or COLOR)

In UK usage and some others, a military ceremony at which the colour is marched past assembled troops (see also colour 2), colours 2), dipping 1) and practice colours.

1st and 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards (hippostcard.com)

Please note that this ceremony began in the 17th century, when a regiment’s colours were marched slowly past assembled troops so that they could recognize them in battle – it is now used to mark the official birthday of HM The King.

TROPHY FLAG

A flag captured in battle and displayed as a trophy – a captured flag (see also stand 2)).

South African soldiers with Italian Flag in Ethiopia/Italian East Africa, 1941;
French soldiers with Viet Minh Flag in Indochina, 1946–54;
Argentine soldiers with Union Flag on Falkland Islands, 1982 (militaryimages.net)

TRUCK

1) The wooden block or metal plate at the top of a flagpole (or mast) below the finial, which includes a pulley (sheaved block) or a hole for the halyard – often incorrectly used as a synonym for the ball or other finial at the top of that flagpole (see also Appendix I, finial, flag pole, halyard and sheaved block).

2) A short pole flexibly mounted on top of a mast for the flying of a flag or pennant at sea and ashore – a pigstick (see also masthead, at the).

TRUMPET BANNER

See bannerette.

Trumpet Banner of 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles, UK

TUFA

A tuft of hair, feathers or other similar materials used in the same manner as a flag (see also vexilloid 1)).

Please note that the term is taken from the ancient Roman tufa which is considered to have been a helmet crest, and to have been adopted in Britain as the tuuf.

(etsy.com)

TUGH

1) An Ottoman vexilloid, now obsolete, of Mongoloid/Turkic origin that symbolized civil or military authority, and consisted of a number of yak or horsetails at the top of a staff – a horsetail standard (see also horsetail, standard 5) and vexilloid 2)).

2) See toug.

Please note that the schellenbaum (also known as a jingling jonny) in use by German Army bands and some others, although also descended from the Ottoman horsetail standard, is a musical instrument and not a vexilloid.

Schellenbaum (National Music Museum)

TWIN SALTIRES

The term to describe two saltires, placed (usually diagonally) in the same panel – a double cross. See double cross 2).

Flag of the Independent State of Jefferson 1941

TWO-AND-A-HALF ARMED CROSS

The term used in Eastern European heraldry – and a direct translation of the Polish póltrzecia krzyza – that describes a Cross of Lorraine which has a third arm projecting on one side only – usually the sinister (see also cross 2), cross of Lorraine, orthodox cross and papal cross).

Arms and Flag of Wojaszówka, Poland

TWO or THREE POINTED

See broad pennant, double-pointed, swallow-tail(ed), swallowtail and tongue, triple-tailed 1), triangular tailed and the note below.

Customs Flag, Denmark); Naval Ensign, Poland; Flag of Zákamenné, Slovakia

Please note (as may be seen from the references given above) that flags/pennants with two or three tails/tongues have many specific variants and it is strongly suggested that the individual entries be consulted before attempting any description.

TWO-SIDED

1) A term used when the reverse of a flag differs from its obverse – but see the note below (also mirror image, obverse, reverse).

2) See double-sided 1).

The National Flag of Paraguay with enlarged detail of the emblems on the obverse and on the reverse

Please note with regard to 1) that this term can include those flags where most of the reverse is a mirror image of the obverse – for example those of Argentina, Egypt and Brazil – but where the detail such as lettering or a charge, is made so that it can be seen correctly on both sides.

The Globe as it should appear on both the obverse and reverse of the National Flag of Brazil

TYPE FLAG

See model flag.

Flag of Yukon Territory, Canada (Design Details Established by Type/Model Flag)

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