- WAFT
- 1) A term, now obsolete, for a flag tied in a knot and displayed at sea as a
signal of some emergency - a wheft or weft (see also
‘flag of distress’) and its following note).
2) (adv) The term may also be used to describe a flag that is tangled or is otherwise
disordered.
- WANDERFAHNE
- See ‘touring flag’).
Wanderfahne/Touring Flag (E Bay)
- WAND OF HERMES (or MERCURY)
- See ‘caduceus’.
![[rod of Hermes example]](../images/v/vxt-d654.gif)
Flag of Holwerd, Netherlands (fotw)
- WANING or WAXING MOON
- Two terms that, whilst potentially contradictory, are sometimes used to describe
the orientation of a crescent moon in place of the more accurate vexillological
phrases “with points towards the hoist or towards the fly”, or of their heraldic
equivalents “increscent/ increment” or “decrescent/decrement” – see
‘crescent 1)’,
‘moon 1)’ and
‘moon 2)’.
![[waning/waxing moon example]](../images/v/vxt-d1785.gif)
Notes
a) A “waxing moon” in the southern hemisphere looks like a “waning moon” in the northern (or vice-versa), and its orientation depends upon whether the flag is dexter-hoisted in the western tradition or sinister- hoisted as in the Arabic. Therefore, the Editors recommend use of either the vexillogical or heraldic terms noted above
b) These terms, whilst not used in modern English heraldry, do occasionally appear in medieval heraldic blazoning.
- WAR BANNER
- In UK usage a term, last used in 1853 and now obsolete, for a small white
triangular flag seen on military drums at a proclamation of war (see also
‘bannerette’).
- WAR ENSIGN
- See ‘naval ensign’ listed under ‘ensign’
(also ‘s’).
War/Naval Ensign of Thailand (fotw); War/Naval Ensign 1880 – 1915,
Austria/Hungary (fotw)
- WAR FLAG
- 1) An alternative term for the naval ensign.
- 2) A term - and a direct translation of the German Kriegsflagge or Spanish bandera de Guerra
- for that flag (different from the national flag) flown by a country’s armed
services, which is usually (but not invariably) the same design as the naval ensign
and/or state flag – a flag of war (see also ‘battle flag 3)’,
‘state flag’, and
‘naval ensign/war ensign’ under ‘ensign’).
![[Bolivia War flag]](../images/v/vxt-d347.gif)
War flag of Germany 1938 – 1945 (fotw); War Flag of
Peru (fotw);
War Flag of China, 1911 (fotw);
War Flag/Naval Ensign of Bolivia (fotw)
- WAR (or WARSHIP) PENNANT (or FLAME)
- See ‘masthead pennant 1)’.
![[War pennant]](../images/v/vxt-d446.gif)
War Pennant/Flamme de Guerre of France (fotw)
Please note that "war flame" is an exact translation of the French term "flamme de guerre".
- WAR WAGON
- See ‘carrocerum’.
- WARNING FLAG
- 1) See 'red flag 1)'
- 2) The term, and a direct translation of the German warnflagge, that is also used to describe the
red and white flag flown by (slow-moving) snow clearance vehicles (see also
‘beach flag’,
‘fire alert flag’,
‘range flag’ and
‘storm warning flags’).
![[Warning flag]](../images/v/vxt-d2000.gif)
Warnflagge (James Dignan)
- WARRANT
- In UK usage and in some others, the legal instrument by which display/augmentation of a territorial coat
of arms or of a flag – usually (but not invariably) in this latter case a defaced version of an established
design - is authorized – a Royal Warrant (illustrations 1), 2), 3) and 4) below), Warrant of the Governor General,
Admiralty Warrant (illustration 4) below) or Warrant of the Minister of Defence (see also
‘archivexillum’,
‘blue ensign 1)’ with its following note,
‘defaced’,
‘flag law’,
‘red ensign 1)’ with its following note,
‘royal order in council 1)’,
‘royal proclamation’ and
‘yacht ensign’ under ‘ensign’ with its following note).
![[The British Antarctic Territories arms]](../images/v/vxt-d025a.gif)
![[The British Antarctic Territories arms]](../images/v/vxt-d1629.gif)
![[Royal Naval Reserve, The Netherlands]](../images/v/vxt-d025b.gif)
![[Lord-Lieutenant, UK]](../images/v/vxt-d025c.gif)
![[Royal Lymington Yacht Club]](../images/v/vxt-d025d.gif)
Arms and Flag of
The British Antarctic Territories; Ensign of the Royal Naval Reserve, The Netherlands;
Flag of Guernsey; Flag of A Lord-Lieutenant, UK; Ensign of
The Royal Lymington Yacht Club, UK (fotw)
Please note that the Board of Admiralty ceased to exist in 1964, and its power to issue (or to withdraw)
warrants was transferred to the Minister of Defence – see
‘anchor flag’.
- WARRANT OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (or OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL)
- See ‘warrant’.
![[Government Ensign of Guernsey]](../images/v/vxt-d2052.gif)
![[Lt Governor of Saskatchewan]](../images/v/vxt-d2053.gif)
Government Ensign of Guernsey established by Warrant of the Minister of Defence, UK (fotw); Flag of the
Lt Governor of Saskatchewan Canada authorized by Warrant of the Governor General (fotw)
- WASHFASTNESS
- See ‘fastness’.
- WATERWHEEL (WATER-WHEEL or WATER-MILL WHEEL)
- The term for a representation of a wheel that usually (but not invariably) provides the motive power for the
grinding of wheat or other cereal – a riverwheel, water-wheel, water mill wheel or millwheel – see ‘millstone’
(also ‘cog-wheel’ and
‘windmill’.
Arms and Flag of Veliki Grđevac, Croatia (fotw); The Arms of Końskie, Poland (fotw); Flag and Arms of
Slunj, Croatia (fotw).
- WATTLE(D)
- 1) On flags, a plaque, frame or ornament consisting of two or more interlaced
branches, and typically used on Croatian flags (see also
‘cartouche’ and
‘ring’).
- 2) In heraldry, the term refers to the fleshy lobe that grows under the throat
of a domestic fowl and in the adjective form is used when the wattle is of a different
tincture to the body of the bird concerned - but see ‘jelloped’ (also
‘tincture’).
![[Wattle example]](../images/v/vxt-d349.gif)
![[Wattle example - Blato, Croatia]](../images/v/vxt-d1809.gif)
![[Wattle example - Blato, Croatia]](../images/v/vxt-d1809a.gif)
![[Wattle example - Veltheim, Switzerland]](../images/v/vxt-d1810.gif)
examples (Željko Heimer); Flag and Arms of Blato, Croatia (fotw); Flag of
Veltheim, Switzerland
- WAVY
- (adj) A basically heraldic term used when the edges of an
ordinary/charge, or the division line of the field on a shield, banner of arms
or a flag are shown with wavy lines, and often (but not invariably) symbolic
of running water – unde or undy (see also ‘active’,
‘banner of arms’, ‘nebuly’,
‘barry wavy’,
‘ordinary’
and ‘serrated’).
![[Overijssel, Netherlands]](../images/v/vxt-d351.gif)
Flag of Overijssel, Netherlands (fotw); Flag of
Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Germany (fotw); Arms and Flag of
Zadar, Croatia (fotw);
Flag of Ciutadilla, Spain (fotw)
- WAVY FLAME
- In English then British usage, now obsolete, the term used to describe a pile wavy
as it appeared on military colours – see
‘pile(s) wavy’ (also
‘flammes’,
‘pile 2)’, ‘stand 1)’,
‘venn’
and ‘wavy’ ).
Major’s Colour in Venn A, England c1643; Major’s Colour, UK c1710 (fotw)
- WAXING or WANING MOON
- Two terms that, whilst potentially contradictory, are sometimes used to describe the
orientation of a crescent moon in place of the more accurate vexillological phrases “with
points towards the hoist or towards the fly”, or of their English heraldic equivalents
“increscent/increment” or “decrescent/decrement” – see
‘crescent 1)’,
‘moon 1)’,
‘moon 2)’ and the notes below.
Please note that a “waxing moon” in the southern hemisphere looks like a “waning moon”
in the northern (or vice versa), and its orientation depends upon whether the flag
is dexter-hoisted in the western tradition or sinister-hoisted as in the Arabic. Therefore,
the Editors recommend use of either the vexillogical or heraldic terms noted above.
Also please note that these terms, whilst not used in modern English heraldry, do occasionally
appear in medieval heraldic blazoning.
- WEAR A FLAG
- (v) To display a flag - said of a ship or any vessel (see also
‘ensign 1)’ and
‘fly 2)’).
Civil Ensign of Malaysia (fotw); Naval Ensign of
Croatia (fotw); Reserve Ensign of the
UK (fotw)
- WEATHER (or WEATHER-WARNING) FLAG (or PENNANT)
- 1) See ‘storm warning flag’ (also
‘beach flag’).
2) In Japanese usage now obsolete, flags or pennants flown prominently in urban areas to advise of
anticipated weather conditions (see also ‘safety flag’.
Loading/Unloading of Cargo Suspended, Chile; Small Craft Warning, US; Clear sky, Occasionally Overcast and South West Wind, Japan (Miles Li).
- WEATHER VANE
- See ‘vane 4)’.
- WEDGE
- See ‘pile 3)’.
Colour of the Hamburg State Police c1936 - 1945, Germany (fotw)
- WEDGE WAVY
- See ‘piles(s) wavy 1)’.
Colour of the
46th Regiment of Foot c1750, Prussia (fotw)
- WEFT
- 1) See ‘waft’.
2) The term used in weaving to describe those yarns attached to a movable shuttle, and
which run alternately above and below those fixed to the loom (the warp).
- WEIGHTED FLY
- A term which may be used when a metal rod (or similar)
is inserted into a sleeve placed at the fly of a conventional/hoisted flag (intended
to he hung from a horizontal pole) in order to weight it for vertical hanging and to
prevent the flag becoming entangled with its pole (see also
‘flagpole’,
‘hoisted flag’,
‘outrigger pole’ and
‘tangle rod’).
Please note that this term has been introduced by the
Editors as no existing established term could be found.
- WEST-EAST DIAGONAL
- A diagonal stripe that runs from the upper hoist to the lower fly whose corners
generally touch the corners of the flag but whose width is entirely contained
within the width of that flag - a reduced bend - see ‘bend’ and
‘Appendix IX’ (also
‘ascending diagonal’,
‘descending diagonal’,
‘east-south diagonal’,
‘east-west diagonal’,
‘north-east diagonal’,
‘north-south diagonal’,
‘south-east diagonal’,
‘south-north diagonal’,
‘west-north diagonal’
and ‘west-south diagonal’).
![[Brunei]](../images/v/vxt-d353.gif)
National Flag of Brunei (fotw); Flag of
Prosatín, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of the
Mavrolachians, Croatia (fotw); Flag of
Slatiňany, Czech Republic (fotw)
- WEST-NORTH DIAGONAL
- A diagonal stripe running from the lower hoist to the upper fly, whose corners may (or may not)
touch the corners of the flag but whose width is contained within the length of the flag at the
fly and the width of the flag at its hoist (see also
‘Appendix IX’,
‘ascending diagonal’,
‘descending diagonal’,
‘east-south diagonal’,
‘east-west diagonal’,
‘north-east diagonal’,
‘north-south diagonal’,
‘south-east diagonal’,
‘south-north diagonal’,
‘west-north diagonal’
‘west-east diagonal’ and
‘west-south diagonal’).
Flag of Dešná, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of
Lovcice, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of
Orion Shipping, US (fotw); Flag of
Aguiarnópolis, Brazil (fotw)
Please note that this term, whilst an extension of those existing
and established, has been introduced by the editors.
- WEST-SOUTH DIAGONAL
- A diagonal stripe running from the upper hoist corner to the lower fly corner, whose corners may
(or may not) touch the corners of the flag but whose width is contained within the width of the flag
at the hoist and the length of the flag at its fly (see also
‘Appendix IX’,
‘ascending diagonal’,
‘descending diagonal’,
‘east-west diagonal’,
‘north-east diagonal’,
‘north-south diagonal’,
‘south-east diagonal’,
‘south-north diagonal’,
and ‘west-north diagonal’),
Example; Flag of Žákava, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of
Makov, Czech Republic (fotw)
Please note that this term, whilst an extension of those existing and established,
has been introduced by the editors.
