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Dictionary of Vexillology: D (Dharma Chakra - Dipping)

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DHARMA CHAKRA (or CHAKKRA)
DHVAJA
DIAGONAL BICOLOUR
DIAGONAL (or DIAGONALLY-CENTRED) CROSS
DIAGONAL DISPLAY DESIGN (or FLAG)
DIAGONAL MULTI-STRIPE
DIAGONAL TRIBAND
DIAGONAL TRICOLOUR
DIAMOND (or DIAMOND SHAPE)
DIAMOND-THROUGHOUT (or –OVERALL)
DIFFERENCE (DIFFERENCED or DIFFERENCING)
DIGITATE
DIMENSIONS
DIMIDIATED
DIMIDIATION
DINNER FLAG
DIP, AT THE
DIPLOMATIC FLAGS
DIPPING

DHARMA CHAKRA (or CHAKKRA)

See ‘chakra’.

Buddhist Flag, Thailand (fotw)

DHVAJA

A triangular flag or pennant usually (but not invariably) containing seven red/orange over white horizontal stripes whose lower edge is traditionally set at right angles to the hoist, and symbolic of Hinduism (see also ‘pavon’ ‘prayer flag’ and ‘religious flag’).

Dhvajas of the Hindus (CS)

Notes
a) "Dhvaja" is the Sanskrit word for “flag” and the examples shown above are flown on festivals and other special occasions to mark the victory of Sanatana Dharma, however, pennants dedicated to individual gods within the Hindu pantheon are also sometimes seen.
b) The word is sometimes pronounced as d’vahjah, but other pronunciations exist.

DIAGONAL BICOLOUR

See ‘bicolour 1)', (also ‘triangular panel 2)’).

Flag of Lanzerote, Spain (fotw)

DIAGONAL (or DIAGONALLY-CENTRED) CROSS

See ‘saltire’.

Flag of Pont-à-Celles, Belgium (fotw)

DIAGONAL DISPLAY DESIGN

See ‘flag for slanted display’.

Flag of the Army For Slanted Display, Bolivia (fotw & CS)

DIAGONAL MULTI-STRIPE

See ‘multi-stripe’.

Flag of Honnelles, Belgium (fotw)

DIAGONAL TRIBAND

See See ‘triband 1)’ and its following note c) (also ‘triangular panel 2)’).

Flag of Cruzaltense, Brazil (fotw)

DIAGONAL TRICOLOUR

See ‘tricolour 1)' and its following note c) (also ‘triangular panel 2)’).

Flag of Flor do Sertão, Brazil (fotw)

DIAMOND (or DIAMOND SHAPE)

See ‘lozenge 1)’.

Flag of Mato Grosso, Brazil (fotw)

DIAMOND-THROUGHOUT (or –OVERALL)

See ‘lozengethroughout’.

Flag of Hollandscheveld, The Netherlands

DIFFERENCE (DIFFERENCED or DIFFERENCING)

1) (v) On flags, to create a variation of another flag, either by changing one or more colours, or their sequence, and/or by adding or removing a charge. Usually done to indicate close cultural, historical, or geographic ties as in, for example, the flag of Italy was differenced from that of France by changing the blue stripe to green, or to differentiate between the various grades of senior officer in the armed services (see also ‘archivexillum’, ‘core flag’, ‘flag family’, ‘label 2)’ and ‘rank flag’).

2) In heraldry, see ‘cadency, mark of’ and the note below..

National Flag of France (fotw); National Flag of Italy (fotw); National flag of Russia (fotw); National Flag of Slovakia (fotw); National Flag of Slovenia (fotw); National Flag of Bulgaria (fotw)

Please note with regard to 2) that in heraldry the terms difference and differencing may not have exactly the same meaning, that these terms do not necessarily equate directly with cadency as shown above and that we therefore suggest a dictionary or glossary on heraldry should be consulted for further details.

DIGITATE

See ‘square-tongued’.

Flag of Venice, Italy (fotw)

DIMENSIONS

The actual measured size of a flag, or of a charge thereon, as opposed to its proportions (see also ‘proportions’, ‘rectangle’, ‘specification’, and ‘specification sheet’,).

DIMIDIATED

(adj) The heraldic term for a charge or charges, such as animals, birds (particularly eagles) or fleur-de-lis, forming part of a coat of arms, or an entire coat of arms as defined herein, which are halved along the vertical centre line of a shield, banner of arms or a flag – but see ‘conjoined’ and ‘demi’ (also ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘entire 1)’ and ‘impale’).

From left: Flag and Arms of Nysa, Poland (fotw); Flag of the Cinque Ports, UK (fotw); Arms and Flag of Gnoen, Germany (Klaus-Michael Schneider), Arms and President’s Flag, Kujavia-Pomerania, Poland (fotw)

Please note, however, that where two sets of dimidiated arms or any elements thereof are set side by side (as illustrated above), in heraldic terms they are said to be ‘impaled by dimidiation’, and that (whilst this is often the case) one dimidiated charge, or set of dimidiated arms, need not necessarily (as per the example below) be set beside another so halved - see ‘entire 1)’ (also ‘conjoined’).

Flag of Geneva, Switzerland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Krásné Pole, Czech Republic (fotw)

DIMIDIATION

See ‘dimidiated’ and following note above.

Arms and Flag of Kornowac, Poland (fotw)

DINNER FLAG

In US usage the practice, almost certainly obsolete, of flying a white flag from the starboard yardarm (or spreader) of a pleasure vessel when the owner is dining, and from the port yardarm when the crew are at meals – but see ‘meal pennant’ (also ‘guest on board flag’, ‘owner absent flag’ and ‘yardarm’).

Dinner Flag, US (fotw)

DIP, AT THE

(adj) The naval term for when a flag or pennant is flown in the half-mast position (see also ‘code pennant’, ‘dipping 2)’ and its second note, ‘close up’ and ‘half mast’).

Please note that the usual protocol with regard to flying a flag in the half-mast position on land is not followed at sea.

DIPLOMATIC FLAGS

Those distinguishing flags that are flown by the officers of a country’s diplomatic services (consular or ambassadorial) either ashore or afloat - an ambassadorial, ambassador’s, consul’s, consular or consular officer’s flag (see also ‘distinguishing flag 1)’ and ‘distinguishing jack’.

Ambassador’s Flags – UK, Thailand, Gambia and US (fotw)

Please note that these flags are not generally flown outside embassies or consulates (although they may be), but are more usually seen ashore as car flags, within diplomatic premises and/or outside the residences of ambassadors or consuls, or they may be flown from the main masthead or a jack staff of a vessel carrying a diplomatic or consular officer when afloat (see also ‘car flag’, ‘jack staff’, ‘main’ and ‘masthead’).

DIPPING

1) On parade, a method of saluting with a flag in which the staff is lowered by inclining the staff forward then returning it to the original upright position, with the degree of such lowering being governed by national regulations or custom, and ranging from a slight inclination to dropping the head of the staff all the way to the ground or vailing – see ‘vailing’ (also ‘colour 2)’, ‘colours 2)’, 'parade flag', ‘pike’, ‘staff 2)’ ‘trailing 1’ and ‘trooping the colour’). When multiple flags are carried, which (if any) are dipped in salute generally depends on the status of the person or entity being saluted, dipping customs vary widely, however, and in some countries, the national flag is never dipped, while in others it may be dipped in salute to a head of state or other specified high dignitaries.

2) (v) At sea, a method of saluting with a flag whereby the ensign is lowered about one width from the truck of the ensign staff (or one-third the length of the halyard if flying at the gaff or yardarm) and then re-hoisted to its original position (see also ‘ensign’, ‘ensign staff’, ‘gaff’, ‘halyard’. and ‘yardarm’).

3) See ‘trailing’.

(trooping-the-colour.co.uk)

Notes
a) A warship will never dip its ensign to another vessel (whether warship or merchantman) but will invariably return the salute when offered by a merchant vessel - a courtesy that (whilst formerly given as a matter of course) is rarely seen today – and that that warships only return salutes from the ships of countries recognized by their own government. Saluting between warships not wearing the flag of a flag officer or a broad pennant is carried out by bosun’s call or bugle, and when flag officers meet at sea they salute each other with the appropriate number of guns, although usually only by prior arrangement (see also 'flag of command', ‘flag officer’, ‘gun salute’ and ‘private ship’).
b) At sea a manoeuvring signal will be dipped by the flagship when it has been acknowledged, and signifies that the signal is to be executed, however, an answering or code pennant flown at the dip in response to a hoist from the flagship, indicates that the signal is not understood - an answering pennant flown close-up confirms that the signal has been received and understood (see also ‘code pennant’, ‘close-up’, ‘dip, at the’, ‘hoist 2)’ and ‘signal flag’).

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