The Vexillologist's Lexicon

🏳️ Banderole/Bannerol

A small flag or streamer affixed to a knight's lance, or a long, narrow flag flown from a ship's masthead.

🚩 Banner

Generically, any flag. In heraldry, specifically a square or rectangular flag mirroring the design of a coat of arms; also known as a banner of arms.

⛵ Burgee

A distinguishing flag for a recreational boating organization, typically shaped like a pennant.

🚢 Civil Ensign/Merchant Flag

A national flag variant flown on civil ships to denote their nationality.

🏛️ Civil Flag

A version of a national flag designated for use on civil installations or craft.

🎖️ Colour/Color

The flag representing a military unit.

⚽ Corner Flag

A small flag positioned at each corner of a sports field, such as a football pitch.

🤝 Courtesy Flag/Ensign

A flag flown on a visiting ship in foreign waters as a gesture of respect to the host nation.

⚓ Ensign

The flag of a ship or military unit; generically, any flag. On ships, it is typically flown from the stern.

💂 Fanion

A small flag utilized by military units, notably the French military.

👑 Gonfalon/Gonfanon/Gonfalone

A heraldic flag suspended and hanging from a crossbar.

⚔️ Guidon

A small flag flown by a military unit; in Scottish heraldry, a smaller variant of a standard.

⚓ Jack

A flag flown from a short jackstaff at the bow of a ship.

🌍 National Flag

A flag symbolizing a nation, flown by its government and citizens.

🔺 Pennon/Pennant

A flag that is wider at the hoist than at the fly.

🎶 Pipe Banner

A decorative flag for Scottish Highland bagpipes.

🏔️ Prayer Flag

Flags flown along mountain ridges in the Himalayas, intended to bestow blessings.

⭐ Rank Flag/Distinguishing Flag

A flag flown by a superior naval officer on their flagship or headquarters.

✉️ Signal Flag

A flag or pennant used for communication, not necessarily heraldic.

📜 Standard

In heraldry, a long tapering flag bearing heraldic badges and the motto of the armiger; can also refer to military colours or royal standards.

🏛️ State Flag/Governmental Flag

A national flag variant representing the national government, often defaced with a coat of arms.

❓ Vexilloid

A flag-like object used symbolically, but differing from a conventional flag.

⚱️ Vexillum

A flag-like object suspended from a horizontal crossbar, used as a military standard by the Ancient Roman army.

🛡️ War Flag/Military Flag/Battle Flag

A variant of a national flag used by a nation's military forces on land.

💨 Windsock

A conical textile tube indicating wind direction and strength.

☰ Vertical Bisection (Per Pale)

A flag divided vertically into two equal halves. Example: Flag of Algeria.

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Example:

Flag of Algeria

☰ Horizontal Bisection (Per Fess)

A flag divided horizontally into two equal halves. Example: Flag of Poland.

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Example:

Flag of Poland

◱ Diagonal Bisection (Per Bend)

A flag divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly. Example: Flag of Papua New Guinea.

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Example:

Flag of Papua New Guinea

◲ Diagonal Bisection (Per Bend Sinister)

A flag divided diagonally from upper fly to lower hoist. Example: Flag of Bhutan.

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Example:

Flag of Bhutan

| Pale

A flag divided into vertical stripes of equal width. Example: Flag of Canada.

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Example:

Flag of Canada

☰ Vertical Tricolor (Tierced in Pale)

A flag divided vertically into three stripes of equal width. Example: Flag of France.

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Example:

Flag of France

─ Fess

A flag divided into horizontal stripes of equal width. Example: Flag of Spain.

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Example:

Flag of Spain

☰ Horizontal Tricolor (Tierced in Fess)

A flag divided horizontally into three stripes of equal width. Example: Flag of the Netherlands.

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Example:

Flag of the Netherlands

◴ Bend

A diagonal stripe from upper hoist to lower fly. Example: Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.

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Example:

Flag of Trinidad and Tobago

◰ Bend Sinister

A diagonal stripe from upper fly to lower hoist. Example: Flag of Tanzania.

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Example:

Flag of Tanzania

█ Side (Dexter)

The side of the flag adjacent to the flagpole (hoist side). Example: Flag of Pakistan.

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Example:

Flag of Pakistan

█ Side Sinister

The side of the flag furthest from the flagpole (fly side). Example: Canadian Coast Guard Jack.

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Example:

Canadian Coast Guard Jack

█ Chief

The upper portion of a flag, adjacent to the hoist. Example: Flag of New Brunswick.

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Example:

Flag of New Brunswick

█ Base

The lower portion of a flag. Example: Flag of Rwanda.

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Example:

Flag of Rwanda

┼ Quadrisection (Per Cross)

A flag divided into four sections by a cross. Example: Flag of Panama.

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Example:

Flag of Panama

⨂ Diagonal Quadrisection (Per Saltire)

A flag divided into four sections by diagonal lines forming an X. Example: Flag of Grenada.

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Example:

Flag of Grenada

┼ Greek (Hellenic) Cross

A cross with arms of equal length, meeting at right angles. Example: Flag of Switzerland.

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Example:

Flag of Switzerland

┼ Symmetric Cross

A cross where all arms are of equal length and width. Example: Flag of Georgia (country).

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Example:

Flag of Georgia (country)

┼ Nordic Cross

A cross design where the vertical band is shifted towards the hoist. Example: Flag of Sweden.

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Example:

Flag of Sweden

❌ Saltire

A diagonal cross, like St. Andrew's Cross. Example: Flag of Scotland.

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Example:

Flag of Scotland

█ Canton

A distinct section, typically the upper hoist quarter, often containing symbols like stars. Example: Flag of Taiwan.

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Example:

Flag of Taiwan

█ Border

A band around the edge of a flag. Example: Flag of Montenegro.

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Example:

Flag of Montenegro

█ Bordure

A border around the entire flag, often of a different color. Example: Flag of Maldives.

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Example:

Flag of Maldives

◢ Pile

A triangular shape extending from the hoist towards the fly. Example: Flag of the Czech Republic.

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Example:

Flag of the Czech Republic

◢ Pile Throughout

A triangular shape extending from the hoist to the fly. Example: Flag of Eritrea.

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Example:

Flag of Eritrea

◢ Chevron

A V-shaped figure pointing towards the hoist. Example: Flag of NAVA.

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Example:

Flag of NAVA

┼ Pall

A Y-shaped cross, formed by a pale and two chevron-related piles. Example: Flag of South Africa.

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Example:

Flag of South Africa

◢ Arrowhead

A triangular shape pointing towards the fly. Example: Flag of Guyana.

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Example:

Flag of Guyana

◢ Gusset

A triangular shape pointing towards the fly, originating from the sides. Example: Flag of Jubaland (Somalia).

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Example:

Flag of Jubaland (Somalia)

☰ Stripes

Multiple bands of color, typically horizontal or vertical. Example: Flag of the United States.

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Example:

Flag of the United States

🆘 Distress

Displaying a flag upside down or tied in a wheft as a signal of extreme danger.

◬ Half-Mast

Flying a flag at least its own width down from the top of the pole, typically for mourning or remembrance.

⬆️ Hoist

The act of raising a flag, usually via a rope.

⬇️ Lower

The act of taking down a flag, usually via a rope.

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