YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT FLAGS?
Yes, we have been asked about this before.
So we took the time to copy and paste this information as a glossary of terms. If you want to know a bit more—while the link lasts—you can check out additional details at: Glossary of Vexillology on Wikipedia (not our usual go-to, but its a start).
Glossary of Flag Terms (1–63)
Appliqué: One piece of material sewn to another.
Appliquéd: Technique of sewing one piece of material to another.
Back: The surface seen when a flag is not in its normal flying position with the hoist to the viewer's right.
Badge: A coat of arms or simple heraldic symbol.
Banner: A flag or cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan, or message. Hung vertically from the top.
Bicolor: A flag with two stripes of different colors—horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
Bordered: A flag where the central color is surrounded by a different color.
Burgee: A swallow-tailed pennant used for seafaring vessels.
Canton: Rectangular or square part of a flag, usually in the upper hoist corner.
Casket flag: A 5 ft x 9.5 ft U.S. flag used in military funerals.
Charge: Any emblem placed on the field of a flag.
Cleat: Device used to secure the halyard to the flagpole.
Civil Flag: National flag flown by civilians on non-government sites.
Coat of Arms: A shield-based design representing a country, province, or group.
Color Fastness: Material’s resistance to fading and color migration.
Colors: A flag or standard used by an army or fleet.
Counter-change: A cross of colors placed inside an emblem.
Cross: Vertical and horizontal strips extending across the flag.
Double sided/Double thickness: Two flags sewn back-to-back; heavier and less flyable.
Emblem: Graphic design used on a flag or coat of arms.
Ensign: Flag showing office, rank, or nationality.
Ferrule: Tubular part of an ornament placed atop an indoor pole.
Field: The background color of a flag.
Fimbriation: Narrow strip separating colors or a canton from its field.
Flag: Cloth flown from a pole, used for signaling or identification.
Flash Collar: Decorative base cover for in-ground flagpoles.
Fly End: Free end of a flag, opposite the heading.
Fringed: Flag with decorative fringe; indoor or parade use only.
Front/Obverse: Flag’s front side when hoist is on the left.
Garrison Flag: 20 x 38 ft U.S. flag flown on special days.
Gonfalon: Heraldic banner, often swallow-tailed, hung from a crossbar.
Grommets: Brass rings or eyelets for mounting.
Guidon: Military standard for unit designation; rectangular or swallow-tailed.
Half Mast: Flag halfway up a ship’s mast; symbol of mourning or distress.
Half Staff: Flag halfway up a flagpole; symbol of mourning or distress.
Halyard: Rope used to raise or lower a flag.
Heading: Reinforced material used to hoist a flag.
Hoist: Vertical height, attachment side, or act of raising a flag.
Indoor flag: Flag made for indoor use; often fringed.
Jack: Small flag flown at a ship’s bow to indicate nationality.
Joint: Device connecting multi-part poles; threaded if screw-type.
Lozenge: Diamond shape narrower than tall; used in heraldry.
Marching Right: U.S. flag always on its own right in a line or parade.
Motto: Word or phrase symbolizing ideals of a group or nation.
National Flag: Flag symbolizing a country; flown by government and civilians.
Outdoor flag: Flag made for outdoor use; may be used indoors.
Pennant: Cloth with pointed or swallow-tailed fly end.
Pole hem: Sleeve for mounting flags on poles; pole is twice the sleeve diameter.
Post flag: 10 x 19 ft U.S. flag flown over military installations.
Quartered: Flag divided into four equal sections.
Retainer Ring: Device aiding flag raising/lowering on a pole.
Rope and Toggle: Rope through heading with loop and wood toggle; nautical use.
Saltire: Diagonal cross from corner to corner.
Serration: Serrated edge separating two colors.
Single-Reverse: Printed flag with correct front and mirrored back.
Single-Sided: Flag printed on one side only.
Snap Hook: Device attaching flag to halyard.
Storm Flag: 5 x 9.5 ft U.S. flag flown in stormy weather.
Swallow-tail: V-shaped cut creating two points at the fly end.
Triangle: Flag divided by a triangle, usually at the hoist.
Tricolor: Flag with three stripes of three colors; also called triband.
Truck: Top device on outdoor pole housing pulley and ornament.
Vexillology: Study of flags, their history, meaning, and symbolism.
Why Flag Terminology and Context Matter
Flags are not decoration. They are encoded signals—literal, symbolic, historical, and operational. Every term in the glossary defines a physical attribute, a structural component, or a usage protocol that governs how a flag is built, flown, interpreted, and respected.
Operational Precision: Knowing the difference between a canton, field, hoist, and fly end is mandatory for correct flag construction, mounting, and display. Misidentifying these parts leads to improper handling, which in military, ceremonial, or diplomatic contexts is unacceptable.
Protocol Enforcement: Terms like half-staff, garrison flag, storm flag, and marching right are not stylistic—they are directives. They define when, where, and how a flag must be flown. Misuse signals ignorance or disrespect, especially in military or national observances.
Symbolic Integrity: Flags carry encoded meaning. A saltire or cross is not just a design—it represents lineage, sovereignty, or religious affiliation. A tricolor or quartered layout often reflects political unions or historical divisions. Misreading these symbols distorts the message.
Historical Accuracy: Terms like ensign, guidon, gonfalon, and burgee trace back centuries. They are not interchangeable. Each has a specific origin, use case, and authority level. Understanding them preserves historical fidelity and prevents contamination of meaning.
Material and Mounting Compliance: Items like cleat, halyard, heading, snap hook, pole hem, and truck are literal hardware. Misunderstanding these terms results in physical failure—flags that tear, fall, or cannot be raised. This is not symbolic error; it’s mechanical breakdown.
Legal and Civic Responsibility: Flags like the civil flag, national flag, and jack are governed by law in many jurisdictions. Their use, alteration, or display is regulated. Knowing the terms ensures compliance with flag codes, civic ordinances, and international standards.
Cultural and Institutional Respect: Flags used in universities, churches, and ceremonies—such as gonfalons, banners, and fringed flags—carry institutional weight. Misuse undermines the authority and tradition they represent.
Vexillological Literacy: Vexillology is not trivia. It is the study of encoded identity. Understanding the glossary is foundational to interpreting flags as systems of meaning—not as random graphics. It is the difference between literacy and ignorance.
Conclusion
Knowing these 63 terms is not optional for anyone handling, designing, interpreting, or enforcing flag usage. Each term is a literal unit of meaning, construction, or protocol. Misuse is not just incorrect—it’s a breach of symbolic, operational, and historical integrity.
