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Vexillology and Heraldry Series #3: Parts of Flags and Related Terms
Once again, I am starting with the definitions on Wikipedia’s page. Snarky comments in parentheses are mine to indicate what I really think of their definitions. You can find the earlier conversations in this series here and here.
Parts of Flags
Canton—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 Australian Flag.
Charge—A figure or symbol appearing in the field of a flag. There are terms for specific types of charges or alternate names for single changes, such as:
- Badge—A coat of arms (really a heraldic achievement) or simple heraldic symbol.
- Emblem—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 Canadian Flag.
Field—The background of a flag; the color behind the charges.
Finial—A decorative or protective 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. (By whom, Wikipedia? Give me names and addresses of these people. I will kneecap them for this offense. Finial is a good word. It’s what you use to cap the ends of curtain rods. It is what you screw on to hold a lampshade on the lamp. And, it’s that thing on the end of a flagpole, and no, I don’t mean a flagpole sitter.)
Fly—The half or edge of a flag farthest away from the flagpole. This term also sometimes refers to the horizontal length of a flag. (No, it isn’t. We use a very special term for that: length.)
Hoist—The half or edge of a flag nearest to the flagpole. This term also sometimes refers to the vertical width of a flag. (No, it isn’t. We use a very special term for that: width.)
Obverse—The front of a flag. For most flags, this is the illustration you will see.
Reverse—The backside of the flag. It is different in some very “special” jurisdictions, like Oregon, who just had to show off their beaver.
Other Terms
Fimbriation—A narrow edging or border, often in white (silver/argent) or gold, on a flag to separate two other colors. For example the white and gold lines of the South African Flag.
Length—The span of a flag along the side at right angles to the flagpole.
Width or breadth—The span of a flag down the side parallel to the flagpole.
Basic Contexts of Use
There are six basic contexts of use, and vexillologists have symbols for them that you might encounter:
- Civil flag—Flown by citizens on land.
- State flag—Flown on public buildings.
- War flag—Flown on military buildings.
- Civil ensign—Flown on private vessels (fishing craft, cruise ships, yachts, etc.).
- State ensign—Flown on unarmed government vessels.
- Naval ensign—Flown on warships.
The United States flag, known by many names, such as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Stars and Stripes,” or “Old Glory,” currently serves all of these contexts.
Some countries also have flags for other contexts, such as the UK’s having an RAF ensign.
Then there are very special contexts, such as the crazy-person designator context. In the US, here is the flag for that:
If you see this flag, back away slowly and avoid eye contact. If you happen to fly this flag, the men in white coats with the butterfly nets will be visiting you soon.
Thoughts? Additions? Comments? Forgotten parts? Take it away, Ricochet.
Published in History
That last one makes me think of some of the flags I’ve seen people in other countries burn in the streets. I saw one where the thirteen stripes were in the canton, and the stars and blue field were the rest. Or five stripes with nine stars, or endless other variations.
It’s only a valid insult if they get it right.
Maybe some of those were other valid flags, but they got confused.
I figure we’ll have at least one “Sovereign Citizen” here on Ricochet to poke with that so-called “Peace Flag.”
I did also see the blue stars on a white background from the crazy flag.
Of interest – I suspect less than 1% of the population of the state would be able to even tell you what colors are on the flag, never mind what is on it or that it is different from front to back. But I like the quip!
You left out our Union Jack, which is the flag flown from the jack staff when a vessel is moored or anchored.
If a country’s flag has a canton, that is usually their jack. If not, it is a smaller version of the regular flag or a separate design.
Originally, the US Navy jack was this:
For the Bicentennial (1975-1976), the jack was this:
Between Sept 11th, 2002 and sometime last June, the First Jack of the Navy was used, which wasn’t really the first jack of the Navy. It looked like this:
The red spots on the snake were added. They also fixed the rattles on the tail.
The jack is lowered when the vessel is underway and the national flag hoisted from the main mast.
I considered going into that, but figured I needed to leave something for you.
Cat grab your flag?
I posted something PIT appropriate. Mistake.
Something about a jack, perhaps?
Cantons in heraldry are similar in appearance to a quarter, specifically a quarter dexter chief. Cantons are smaller though.
The arms of Brittany ancien contains a quarter:
Chequy or and azure within a bordure gules surmounted by a quarter ermine
The arms of Vellberg, Germany have a canton:
Azure a sinister wing argent and a canton or
Cantons could be awarded by a sovereign as a mark of distinction. They may contain charges (animals, buildings, what have you). Quarters may be similarly granted. Some of the arms in Henry III’s book of arms contained quarters that eventually became cantons.
There are cantons sinister (the other upper corner). I don’t know if there is any particular significance to that placement.
I thought all the cantons were in Switzerland.
There is a flag similar to your ‘crazy person flag’ being flown in my town. On it the stars and stripes are both blue on white background. Do you know what this person is attempting to say?
Not off-hand, unless it’s a variant.
@percival, have you got anything on that question?
What town is it you moved to? It could be something local.
I got nuttin’.
… and, thanks to ‘hant, I have been contemplating the arms of Lionel of Antwerp all afternoon.
Per quarterly I and IV azure seme des lis or (France ancien) and gules three lions passant guardant or, armed and langued azure (England); overall a label of three points argent, each charged with a canton gules
So:
This is all your fault, you spinach-munching menace.
Glasgow, ky.
They used to be quite common, especially in Hanoverian times and before. For instance:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_William,_Duke_of_Cumberland
Check his arms.
Also note:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward,_Duke_of_York_and_Albany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Mary,_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Louise,_Duchess_of_Argyll
Haven’t been used much since, though.
No idea unless it’s some sort of play on the Scottish flag’s colors.
Yeah, but would they read a post about flags?
They might.
The blazon for the arms pictured by Wikipedia should be “a label of five points argent.”
From 1725-1727, before his grandfather died:
See? Five points, not three.
Yeah, and four of them have red cantons. The other has a cross gules (St. George for England). And when his grandfather died, his arms became a label of three points with a cross gules in the center.
No cantons.