View source for Glossary of vexillology

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'''Flag terminology''' is the [[nomenclature]], or system of terms, used in [[vexillology]], the study of [[flag]]s, to describe precisely the parts, patterns, and other attributes of flags and their display.

==Flag types==
{{glossary}}
{{term |1=Banderole |2=Banderole or bannerol {{anchor|Bannerol|Banderole}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Banderole]]}} A small flag or streamer carried on the lance of a [[knight]], or a long, narrow flag flown from the [[Mast (sailing)|masthead]] of a ship.}}
{{term |1=Banner}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Banner]]}} Generically, a synonym for a flag of any kind, and in heraldry specifically, a square or rectangular flag whose design is identical to the shield of a [[coat of arms]]; also denominated a [[banner of arms]].}}
{{term |1=Burgee}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Burgee]]}} A distinguishing flag of a recreational boating organisation, which commonly has the shape of a [[pennon|pennant]].}}
{{term |1=Civil ensign |2=Civil ensign, merchant flag, or merchant ensign {{anchor|Merchant flag|Merchant ensign}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Civil ensign]]}} A version of a national flag that is flown on civil ships to denote their nationality.}}
{{term |1=Civil flag}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Civil flag]]}} A version of a national flag that is flown on civil installations or craft.}}
{{term |1=Colour |2=Colour or color {{anchor|color}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Military colours, standards and guidons]]}} The flag of a military unit.}}
{{term |1=Corner flag}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Football pitch|Pitch boundary}}}} A small flag flown at each of the corners of a football pitch or other sports field.}}
{{term |1=Courtesy flag |2=Courtesy flag or courtesy ensign {{anchor|Courtesy ensign}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Maritime flag|Courtesy flag}}}} A flag that is flown on a visiting ship in foreign waters as a sign of respect for the foreign nation.}}
{{term |1=Ensign}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Ensign (flag)|Ensign]]}} The flag of any ship or military unit, or, generically, a synonym for any kind of flag. On ships, an ensign is normally flown at the [[stern]].}}
{{term |1=Fanion}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Fanion]]}} A small flag that the [[French military]] uses.}}
{{term |1=Gonfalon |2=Gonfalon, gonfanon, or gonfalone {{anchor|Gonfanon|Gonfalone}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Gonfalon]]}} A heraldic flag that is suspended and pendent from a crossbar.}}
{{term |1=Guidon}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Military colours, standards and guidons]]}} A small flag that a military unit flies; in [[Heraldic flag#Guidon|Scottish heraldry]], a smaller version of the standard (see below).}}
{{term |1=Jack}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Jack (flag)]]}} A flag flown from a short [[jackstaff]] at the [[Bow (watercraft)|bow of a ship]].}}
{{term |1=National flag}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[National flag]]}} A flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the [[government]] of that nation, but can also be flown by its citizens.}}
{{term |1=Pennon |2=Pennon or pennant {{anchor|Pennant}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Pennon]]}} A flag that is wider at the hoist than at the fly.}}
{{term |1=Pipe banner}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Pipe banner]]}} A decorative flag for Scottish Highland [[bagpipes]].}}
{{term |1=Prayer flag}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Prayer flag]]}} A kind of flag that is flown along mountain ridges and peaks in the [[Himalayas]] in order to bless the surrounding land.}}
{{term |1=Rank flag |2=Rank flag or distinguishing flag {{anchor|Distinguishing flag}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Maritime flag|Rank flags}}}} A flag that a superior naval officer flies on his [[flagship]] or headquarters.}}
{{term |1=Signal flag}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Flag signals]]}} A flag or pennant that communicates or signals information that is not [[heraldic]].}}
{{term |1=Standard}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Heraldic flag|Heraldic standard}}}} In heraldry, a long tapering flag that bears [[heraldic badge]]s and the [[motto]] of the [[armiger]]; it may also refer to a [[Military colours, standards and guidons|military colour]] that cavalry units fly or a [[royal standard]] of a monarch or member of a royal family.}}
{{term |1=State flag |2=State flag or governmental flag {{anchor|Governmental flag}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[State flag]]}} A version of a national flag that represents and may be restricted in use only to the national government and agencies thereof; the design of many state flags consists of the civil flag (see above) ''[[Defacement (flag)|defaced]]'' with a coat of arms or other [[charge (heraldry)|heraldic charge]].}}
{{term |1=Vexilloid}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Vexilloid]]}} A flag-like object that is used in a similar symbolic manner as a flag, but that differs from a conventional flag in some way.}}
{{term |1=Vexillum}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Vexillum]]}} A flag-like object that is suspended from a horizontal crossbar; the [[Ancient Roman army]] used it as its military standard.}}
{{term |1=War flag |2=War flag, military flag, or battle flag {{anchor|Military flag|Battle flag}}}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[War flag]]}} A variant of a national flag that a nation's military forces use on land.}}
{{term |1=Windsock}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Windsock]]}} A conical textile tube that is used to indicate the direction and strength of wind.}}
{{glossary end}}

==Flag elements==
[[File:Flag parts diagram.svg|thumb|Parts of a flag]]

{{glossary}}
{{term |1=Badge}}
{{defn |1=A [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] or simple heraldic symbol.}}
{{term |1=Canton}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Canton (flag)]]}}Any quarter of a flag, but commonly means the upper hoist quarter, such as the field of stars in the [[flag of the United States]] or the [[Union Jack]] in the [[flag of Australia|Australian Flag]].}}
{{term |1=Charge}}
{{defn |1=A figure or symbol appearing in the field of a flag.}}
{{term |1=Emblem}}
{{defn |1=A device often used as a charge on a flag. It may be heraldic in origin or modern, for example the maple leaf on the [[flag of Canada|Canadian Flag]].}}
{{term |1=Field}}
{{defn |1=The background of a flag; the color behind the charges.}}
{{term |1=Fimbriation}}
{{defn |1=A narrow edging or border, often in white or gold, on a flag to separate two other colors.  For example the white and gold lines of the [[flag of South Africa|South African Flag]].}}
{{term |1=Finial}}
{{defn |1=A decorative or protective [[Finial#Flagpoles|cap atop the flagpole]]. Often shaped like a sphere, but can also be a shape with heraldic significance, such as a spear or an eagle. Sometimes referred to as a '''capper'''.}}
{{term |1=Fly}}
{{defn |1=The half or edge of a flag farthest away from the flagpole. This term also sometimes refers to the horizontal length of a flag.}}
{{term |1=Heading}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Flag|Hoisting the flag}}}} A piece of loose fabric running along the hoist for attaching a flag to its rope.}}
{{term |1=Hoist}}
{{defn |1=The half or edge of a flag nearest to the flagpole. This term also sometimes refers to the vertical dimension of a flag.}}
{{term |1=Length}}
{{defn |1=The span of a flag along the side at right angles to the flagpole.}}
{{term |1=Width or breadth}}
{{defn |1=The span of a flag down the side parallel to the flagpole.}}
{{glossary end}}

==Basic patterns==
Flags often inherit traits seen in traditional European [[heraldry]] designs, and as a result, patterns often share names.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! Name !! Illustration !! Example
|-
! [[Pale (heraldry)#Derived terms|Vertical bisection <br>(per pale)]]
| [[File:Flag type vertical bisection.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Algeria.svg|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Algeria]]
|-
! [[Fess#Gallery|Horizontal bisection <br>(per fess)]]
| [[File:Flag type horizontal bisection.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Poland.svg|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Poland]]
|-
! [[Bend (heraldry)#Party per bend|Diagonal bisection <br>(per bend)]]
| [[File:Flag type diagonal bisection.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Papua New Guinea]]
|-
! [[Division of the field#Common divisions of the field|Diagonal bisection <br>(per bend sinister)]]
| [[File:Flag type diagonal bisection per bend sinister.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Bhutan.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Bhutan]]
|-
! [[Pale (heraldry)|Pale]]
| [[File:Flag type pale 2.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Canada.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Canada]]
|-
! [[Triband (flag)#Tricolour|Vertical tricolor <br>(Tierced in pale)]]
| [[File:Flag type vertical tricolor greyscale.svg|240x120px]]{{Clear}}
|[[File:Flag of France.svg|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of France]]
|-
! [[Fess]]
| [[File:Flag type fess.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Spain.svg|border|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Spain]]
|-
! [[Triband (flag)#Tricolour|Horizontal tricolor <br>(Tierced in fess)]]
| [[File:Flag type horizontal tricolor greyscale 2.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of the Netherlands]]
|-
! [[Bend (heraldry)|Bend]]
| [[File:Flag type bend 2.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
! [[Bend (heraldry)|Bend sinister]]
| [[File:Flag type bend sinister 2.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Tanzania.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Tanzania]]
|-
! [[Side (heraldry)|Side]]
| [[File:Flag type side dexter.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Pakistan]]
|-
! [[Side (heraldry)|Side sinister]]
| [[File:Flag type side sinister.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Coastguard Flag of Canada.svg|border|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Canadian Coast Guard#Insignias and other representations|Canadian Coast Guard Jack]]
|-
! [[Chief (heraldry)|Chief]]
| [[File:Flag type chief.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of New Brunswick.svg|border|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of New Brunswick]]
|-
! [[Base (heraldry)|Base]]
| [[File:Flag type base.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Rwanda.svg|border|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Rwanda]]
|-
! [[Division of the field#Common divisions of the field|Quadrisection <br>(per cross)]]
| [[File:Flag type quadrisection.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Panama.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Panama]]
|-
! [[Division of the field#Common divisions of the field|Diagonal quadrisection <br>(per saltire)]]
| [[File:Flag type diagonal quadrisection.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Grenada.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Grenada]]<ref group=note>See also [[#Glossary Bordure|Bordure]].</ref>
|-
! [[Greek cross|Greek (Hellenic) cross]] 
| [[File:Flag type Greek cross.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Switzerland.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Switzerland]]
|-
! Symmetric cross
| [[File:Flag type symmetric cross.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Georgia.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Georgia (country)]]
|-
! [[Nordic Cross flag|Nordic cross]]
| [[File:Flag type Nordic Cross.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Sweden.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Sweden]]
|-
! [[Saltire]]
| [[File:Flag type saltire.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Scotland.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Scotland]]
|-
! [[Canton (flag)|Canton]]
| [[File:Flag type canton.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of the Republic of China|Flag of Taiwan]]
|-
! [[Border]]
| [[File:Flag type border.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Montenegro.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Montenegro]]
|-
! [[Bordure]]
| [[File:Flag type border 2.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Maldives.svg|240x120px]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Maldives]]
|-
! [[Pile (heraldry)|Pile]]
| [[File:Flag type pile.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of the Czech Republic]]
|-
! [[Pile (heraldry)|Pile throughout]]
| [[File:Flag type pile throughout.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Eritrea.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Eritrea]]
|-
! [[Chevron (heraldry)|Chevron]]
| [[File:Flag type chevron 2.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Official flag of the North American Vexillological Association.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[North American Vexillological Association|Flag of NAVA]]
|-
! [[Pall (heraldry)|Pall]]
| [[File:Flag type pall.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of South Africa.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of South Africa]]
|-
! [[Kite (geometry)|Arrowhead]]
| [[File:Flag type arrowhead.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Guyana.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Guyana]]
|-
! [[Gusset (heraldry)|Gusset]]
| [[File:Flag type gusset.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of Jubaland (Somalia).svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of Jubaland]]
|-
! [[Variation of the field#Barry, paly, bendy, pily, chevronny|Stripes]]
| [[File:Flag type stripes.svg|240x120px]]
| [[File:Flag of the United States.svg|240x120px|border]]{{Clear}}[[Flag of the United States]]
|-
|}

==Techniques in flag display==
{{glossary}}
{{term |1=Distress}}
{{defn |1=Flying the flag upside-down,<ref group=note>For example, 36 [[United States Code|US Code]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20140324220425/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-1996-title36/html/USCODE-1996-title36-chap10-sec176.htm §176] provides: "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."</ref> or tying it into a [[:wiktionary:wheft#Noun|wheft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-flip.html |title=Flying flags upside down |last=Nelson |first=Phil |website=Flags of the World |date=30 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519130027/https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-flip.html |archive-date=19 May 2012 |access-date=April 2, 2021}}</ref>}}
{{term |1=Half-mast}}
{{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: [[Half-mast]]}} A style of flag display where the flag is flown at least the width of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole. Typically used as a display of mourning or rememberence.}}
{{term |1=Hoist}}
{{defn |1=The act or function of raising a flag, as on a rope.}}
{{term |1=Lower}}
{{defn |1=The act or function of taking down a flag, as on a rope.}}
{{glossary end}}

=== Illustrations ===
Flag [[illustration]]s generally depict flags flying from the observer's point of view from left to right, the view known as the '''[[obverse]]''' (or "front"); the other side is the '''[[Obverse and reverse|reverse]]''' (or "back").  There are some exceptions, notably some [[Islamic Flags|Islamic flags]] inscribed in [[Arabic]], which is written from right to left; for these the obverse is defined as the side with the hoist to the observer's right.

==See also==
{{Portal|Heraldry}}
* [[Vexillological symbol]]
* [[c:Gallery of flags by design|Gallery of flags by design]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{FOTW|id=vxt-dvex|title=Dictionary of Vexillology}}

{{Vexillology}}

[[Category:Glossaries of science|Vexillology]]
[[Category:Glossaries of the arts|Vexillology]]
[[Category:Vexillology]]
[[Category:Wikipedia glossaries using description lists]]