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Dictionary of Vexillology: E (Equilateral Triangle - Eye Splice)

Last modified: 2024-09-21 by rob raeside
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EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
A triangle whose three sides and three angles are equal – see ‘triangle 1)’.

equilateral triangle
Flag of Carneirinho, Brazil (fotw)


EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)
The alternative heraldic terms for a checky of nine squares in metal and tincture alternately (which thus form a cross) – a checky or checkered of nine, a cross equipollé or cross quarter-pierced – but see ‘checky 2) and the note below’.

Sé, Portugal  Sé, Portugal Lamas, Portugal  
Arms and Flag of , Portugal (fotw); Arms of Lamas, Portugal (fotw)

Please note that a cross quarter-pierced need not (although it can) be formed by an equipollé of nine, and we suggest that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted if further details are required.

Ħ'Attard, Malta
Flag of Ħ'Attard, Malta (fotw)


ERADICATED
The heraldic term for a tree (or possibly a plant) showing its roots.

eradicated eradicated flag - Vest-Agder, Norway
Flag of Riedholz, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Portunhos e Outil, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Vest-Agder, Norway (fotw)


ERASED
The heraldic term used when a charge is cut off as in ‘couped 1)’, but with the dividing line ragged or uneven – see ‘couped 1)’.

erased erased erased
Flag and Arms of Morra, The Netherlands (fotw); Flag of Trinity College - Oxford University, UK (fotw)


ERECT
1) The heraldic term used when an animal is shown upright or on its hind feet. In certain cases this may be used in place of  "rampant", or may be employed in relation to the heads of animals and fish – but see ‘erect 2)’, ‘haurient’, ‘rampant’ and ‘upright 2)’.
2) The heraldic term also used when a charge (often a sword) is shown upright, and employed particularly when it is not normally seen in that position.

erect erect erect
Flag of Gorjani, Croatia (fotw); Arms of Sibenik-Knin, Croatia (fotw) Flag of Smokvica, Croatia (fotw)


ERMINE
The heraldic term for the fur of that animal, and usually shown as a semé of small black trefoils (with larger tails) on a white field (see also ‘furs’, ‘potent 1)’, ‘semé’, ‘trefoil’ and ‘vair’).

Gistel Ermine Ermine 
Flag of Gistel, Belgium (fotw); Flag of Pays de Dol, France (fotw); Flag of Almanza, Spain (fotw)

Please note that “ermine” is considered symbolic of royalty, and is (accordingly) often seen on royal insignia – see ‘pavilion’.


ERRONEOUS FLAG
1) A term sometimes used in place of the more precise terms fictional or fictitious flag – see ‘fictional flag’ and ‘fictitious flag’ (also ‘false flag 1)’).
2) A flag displayed or identified in error/mistakenly.

Fictional Flag Fictional Flag
Erroneous/Fictitious Flag of the Congo from the film Dark of the Sun (fotw); Erroneous/Fictional Flag of Buranda from the TV series Yes Minister (fotw)


ESCALLOP
The heraldic term for a scallop shell generally (but not exclusively) facing downwards, and often representing the badge of a pilgrim.

Escallop Escallop Escallop
Flags of Saint-Barthélemy, Buttwil and Dorénaz, Switzerland (fotw)


ESCARBUNCLE
The heraldic term for a charge with several radiating arms which is meant to represent the strengthening/decorative metalwork of a shield – a carbuncle or charbuncle.

[Escarbuncle example] [Escarbuncle example] [Escarbuncle example]
Flag and Arms of Re, Vestfold, Norway; Flag of Gnarrenburg, Germany (fotw)


ESCUTCHEON
The heraldic term for a shield or base upon which charges or quarterings are placed (see also ‘charge’, ‘impale 1)’, ‘inescutcheon’, ‘quartering’, and ‘shield 1’).

[Escutcheon example] [Escutcheon example] [Escutcheon example]
Escutcheons: Devínska Nová Ves, Slovakia, Oruro, Bolivia and Województwo wielkopolskie, Poland (fotw)

Notes
a) In English heraldry the shape of this shield/escutcheon is considered irrelevant in a grant of arms – a shape which is (in any case) usually dictated by the current fashion, however.
b) The escutcheon of a spinster or widow is displayed upon a lozenge as referenced above.

[Escutcheon example]
Escutcheon of Kate Middleton before her marriage to HRH Prince William


ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE (or PRETENSE)
1) The heraldic term used when one country adds the arms of another to its own in order to show a claim to all or part of that country – for example: the arms of France added to those of England from c1350 – 1801 – but see ‘flag of pretence’.
2) The heraldic term also used when the arms of an heiress are placed in the centre of those of her husband, rather than being impaled – see ‘impaled’.
3) See ‘inescutcheon,’

[Royal Standard 1399] [Danish royal arms] [Spanish Royal Standard 1700]
Royal Standard, England c1399 – 1605 (fotw); Royal Arms, Denmark (fotw); Royal Standard Spain 1700 – 1759 (fotw)


ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMS
An alternative term for a full set of armorial bearings (see also ‘armorial bearings’ and ‘coat of arms).

[Establishment of arms example]
Flag of Gloucester, UK (fotw)


ESTOILE
The heraldic term for a star or star-like charge that usually (but not exclusively) has six wavy points, and considered by some sources to be interchangeable with mullet – see ‘mullet’.

[Estoile example] [Estoile example] [Estoile example]
Flag and Arms of Portsmouth, UK (fotw); Flag of St. Hilda's College Oxford, UK (fotw)

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


ETALON FLAG
See ‘model flag’.

[Establishment of arms example]
Flag of Yukon Territory, Canada (Design Details Established by Etalon/Model Flag) (fotw)


EVENING COLOURS (or COLORS)
See ‘sunset’.

[South African ensign] [South African ensign]
Naval Ensign, UK (fotw); Naval Ensign, South Africa 1952 – 1981 (fotw)


EVENT FLAG
See ‘commemorative flag’.

[26th ICV flag]
Flag of the 26th International Congress of Vexillology, Australia (fotw)


EVERTED
An alternative heraldic term to reversed - see ‘reversed 2)’.

everted example


EVOLUTE
(v) A largely US term for the unrolling of a flag that has been stored rolled around a tube (see also ‘unfurl’).

EXECUTIVE ORDER
In US usage, the legal means by which the President authorizes display of a flag or the amendment of an established design, and the equivalent of a Presidential Decree or Royal Order in Council – see ‘presidential decree’, ‘royal decree’ and ‘royal order in council 2)’ (also ‘flag law’).

[Executive order] [Executive order]
National Flags of the USA 1912 – 1959 and 1959 - 1960 as Regulated by Executive Order (fotw)


EXPANDING STRIPE(S)
A term that may be used when a stripe or stripes widen (usually but not invariably) from the hoist to the fly and start from one fixed point (or from two closely spaced points) as in, for example, the flags of the Marshall Islands or the Seychelles - diverging stripes - but see ‘converging stripes’ and ‘beams’ (also ‘radiating 1)’, ‘stripe(s)’ and ‘striped’).

[Expanding stripes example] [Expanding stripes example] 
National Flag of the Marshall Islands (fotw); National Flag of the Seychelles (fotw)

Please note that this is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors as no suitably accurate alternative could be found


EX-VOTO FLAG
A flag, usually small and plain, displayed (especially by Hindus) to fulfil a religious vow (see also ‘religious flag’).

EYELET
See ‘grommet’.

EYE OF GOD (OF PROVIDENCE or OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE)
The alternative terms for an ancient symbol composed of an eye contained within by a triangle now taken to symbolize the Trinity, and usually (but not exclusively) surrounded by a nimbus, the rays of a sun or similar – the All-Seeing Eye of God, the Eye of Providence or of Divine Providence, God’s Eye or a Trinity Eye (see also ‘nimbus’, ‘radiant’ and ‘rays 1)’).

[eye of God example] [eye of God example] [eye of God example]
Flag of Goppisberg, Switzerland (fotw); Flag and Arms of Radzymin, Poland (fotw)


EYE SPLICE
The naval term for a closed loop at the end of a rope or halyard formed by splicing the end of the rope back into itself to form an eye – a running eye – but see ‘becket’ (also ‘running eye and toggle’ and ‘splice’).

[eye splice]


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