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Dictionary of Vexillology: M (Magen David - Maltese Cross)

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MAGEN DAVID
MAGIC RATIO
MAIL FLAG (or PENNANT)
MAIN (or MAINMAST)
MAIN ORDINARIES
MAJOR’S COLOUR (or COLOR)
MAKE HER NUMBER
MAKING COLOURS
MALTESE CROSS

MAGEN DAVID

The Shield or Star of David composed of two interlaced triangles forming a six pointed star, and symbolic of Judaism (see also ‘menorah’).

National Flag of Israel (fotw); Naval Ensign of Israel (fotw); Civil Ensign of Israel (fotw)

Please note that the Magen David is also known as the Seal of Solomon and as such may be represented as a pentagram of with five points as it now appears on the flags of Ethiopia and Morocco (based on the Hebrew Encyclopaedia) - see ‘pentagram’.

National Emblem and Flag of Ethiopia

MAGIC RATIO

See ‘golden mean’.

MAIL FLAG (or PENNANT)

See ‘postal flag’.

Flag of the Mail/Postal Service 1918 – 1941, Yugoslavia (fotw); Flag of the Mail/Postal Service, Russia (fotw); Royal Mail Pennant, UK (fotw)

MAIN (or MAINMAST)

The most important mast in a ship or yacht, or the tallest mast in a sailing ship from which the masthead pennant or the command flag of a full admiral (or five star/Admiral of the Fleet) was formerly flown (see also ‘balls of difference’, ‘flag of command’, ‘fore’, ‘mast 2)’, ‘masthead’, ‘masthead pennant 1)’ and ‘mizzen’).

MAIN ORDINARIES

See ‘ordinary’.

Examples: Chief; Cross; Pale; Saltire; Fess; Pile; Chevron; Quarter; Bend

MAJOR'S COLOUR (or COLOR)

See ‘stand of colours 1)’ and ‘venn’.

Examples of Major’s Colours, English c1641 (Željko Heimer, CS and fotw)

MAKE HER NUMBER

(v) To hoist that group of signal flags which identify a ship in a recognized code code – a term now increasingly obsolete – see ‘call sign hoist’ and the note below (also ‘International Code of Signal Flags’, ‘pendant number’, ‘private signal 3)’ and ‘signal flag’).

MTLQ in the 1866 Commercial Code of Signals – from 1880 The International Code of Signals - and the “number” of SS Australia (P&O Lines) c1898

Please note that use of two flags to indicate the country of registration applies only to a call sign hoist in the current International Code.

MAKING COLOURS

See ‘colours 5)’.

Naval Ensign, UK (fotw); Naval Ensign South Africa 1952 – 1981 (fotw)

MALTESE CROSS

The heraldic term for a cross resembling four arrowheads, with straight-sided arms, eight outward facing points and generally (but not exclusively), inner points which meet at the centre – a cross of (the order of) St John of Jerusalem, a cross Maltese or cross of eight points - but see ‘cross pattée’ in ‘appendix VIII’ (also ‘cross 2)’).

From left: Medical Services, Spain (fotw); Arms and Flag of Polzela, Slovenia (fotw); Grand Master of the Military Order of Malta (fotw); Arms and Flag of Lagow, Poland (CS)

Please note that the cross on the national flag of Malta is not a Maltese cross but is the emblem of a British order of gallantry – the George Cross.

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