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Dictionary of Vexillology: D (Dominican Cross - Dutch Colours)

Last modified: 2016-02-17 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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DOMINICAN CROSS
A cross fleury gyronny and symbol of the Dominican Order – a cross of the Order of Santo Domingo or of St Dominic – see ‘cross fleury’ and ‘cross gyronny’ (with its following note) in ‘appendix VIII’ (also ‘cross counterchanged’ in ‘appendix VIII’).

[example] [example] [example]
Example, Flag of Aldeanueva de Santa Cruz, Spain (Ivan Sache); Arms of Sγo Domingos e Vale de Αgua, Portugal (fotw)

DOUBLE APPLIQUÉ
A term that may be used when the appliquι technique is applied to both sides of a flag – see ‘appliqué’ (also ‘single appliqué’).
DOUBLE BORDER
A term that may be used when a flag has two borders – but see ‘inner border 1)’ and ‘outer border’.

[example]
Former Flag of Vistonida, Greece (Olivier Touzeau)

DOUBLE COTTICED (or COTISED)
See ‘Appendix VII’.

[example]

DOUBLE CROSS
1. See ‘Cross of Lorraine’.
2. The colloquial term for a treacherous act, and (appropriately) used in one instance to illustrate the charge on a fictitious flag as shown below - see ‘twin saltires’. 

Slovakia Slovakia Tomania
National Flag and Arms of Slovakia (fotw); National Flag of the fictitious country Tomania from the film The Great Dictator (fotw)

DOUBLE PAVON
A term for the shape of the national flag of Nepal, which was apparently created by two pavon having been sewn together - see ‘pavon’.

Nepal Dewaas Dewaas
National Flag of Nepal (fotw); Flag if Kirat, Nepal (fotw); Former Princely State of Dewas, India (fotw)

Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors since no established alternative could be found.

DOUBLE QUEUED
The heraldic term used when a lion is showing a double tail – a queue fourché or fourchée (see also ‘coward’ in ‘appendix V’ and ‘queued’).

Leichlingen, Germany Muttenz, Switzerland Sankt Vith, Belgium
Flag of Leichlingen, Germany (fotw): Flag of Muttenz, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Sankt Vith, Belgium (fotw)

DOUBLE-ARMED CROSS
See ‘cross of Lorraine’.

Ieper, Belgium
Flag of Ieper, Belgium (fotw)

DOUBLE-FIMBRIATED
See ‘cotticed 1)’ and its following note (also ‘fimbriated’).

example Rudervereinigung Hellas-Titania, Germany
Example; Flag of Rudervereinigung Hellas-Titania, Germany (CS)

DOUBLE-POINTED
1) A term for that variation of the swallow-tailed flag where a vertical section appears in the centre of the fly (see also ‘splittflag’ and ‘swallow-tail(ed)’).
2) See ‘triangular-tongued’.

Denmark yacht ensign [Iceland] [Aaland Islands yacht ensign] Slupia, Poland
from left: The Yacht Ensign of Denmark (fotw); Flag of Iceland (CS); Yacht Ensign of the Aaland Is, Finland (CS); Flag of Slupia, Poland (fotw)

DOUBLE-PRINCE
The term for a 17th Century Dutch naval flag usually (but not invariably) of six even, horizontal stripes in the Dutch national colours repeated – but see ‘triple-prince’ (also ‘dreikleur’ and ‘princeflag’)

[double prince] double prince with 7 stripes
From left: Double Prince c1660 (CS); With Seven Stripes c1660 (fotw)

Please note however, whilst all available evidence suggests that red, white and blue were employed, orange instead of red may have been used at an earlier stage.

DOUBLE-SIDED
1) The term used when a flag is made from two separate pieces of cloth placed back to back, either to ensure that the reverse of a flag is not a mirror image of the obverse (as in the National Flag of Saudi Arabia) or (in the case of some military colours and others) is of a different design (see also ‘mirror image’, ‘obverse’ and ‘reverse’).
2) See ‘two-sided 1)’.

[double-sided example] [double-sided example] [double-sided example] [double-sided example]
The Obverse and Reverse of the National, double-sided Flag of Saudi Arabia (fotw); Obverse and Reverse, Colour of The Condor Legion, Spain 1939 (fotw)

DOUBLE-SWALLOWTAIL
See ‘swallowtail and tongue’.

Backovik, Slovakia
Flag of Backovik, Slovakia (fotw)

DOUBLE-TAILED DESCATE
(adj) A term used to describe a fly that is cut into two tails with rounded ends – a cloven bullnose (see also ‘fly’, ‘gonfanon’, ‘guidon 2)’, ‘multi-tailed descate’, ‘heraldic standard’, ‘swallowtail’ and ‘triple-tailed descate’).

[double tailed descate]
Double-Tailed Descate (CS)

DOUBLE-TRESSURE (OR DOUBLE-TRESSURE FLEURY/FLORY )
The heraldic term for a usually (but not invariably) decorated, double border inset from the edges of a shield, banner of arms or flag, with one well-known example being the double-tressure decorated with fleur-de-lis (fleuri-counterfleuri or flory-counterflory) on the royal banner of Scotland when it may be known as a “royal tressure” or “double-treasure fleury/flory” (see also ‘border’, ‘counter-’, ‘fleur-de-lis’, ‘fleury’, ‘inset’, ‘inset border’ and ‘orle 1)’).

Royal Banner of Scotland Horebeke, Belgium Cape Breton RM, Canada McIlwraith, McEachern & Co, UK
from left: Royal Banner of Scotland (fotw); Flag of Horebeke, Belgium (fotw): Flag of Cape Breton Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada (fotw); Flag of McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co., UK (fotw)

Please note that the term “tressure” is considered by some heraldic writers to be a diminutive of ‘orle’ but is rarely seen singly - see ‘tressure’.
DRACO
A Late Roman cavalry flag formed like a windsock whose open end was fixed to a dragon’s head with gaping silver jaws (see also ‘draconarius’, ‘dragon flag 1)’ and ‘windsock’).

draco
(Wikipedia)

DRACONARIUS (or DRACONTARIUS)
A bearer of the draco – see ‘draco’.
DRAGON FLAG
1) A pre-heraldic flag similar to the Roman Draco formed like a windsock, with a dragon’s head/shape, and possibly having a whistling tube within it (see also ‘draco’, ‘pre-heraldic’, 'standard 6)' and ‘windsock’).
2) See ‘imperial dragon flag’.

[imperial China dragon flag]
Chinese Imperial Dragon Flag c1890 (fotw)

Please note with regard to 1), it is suggested by some authorities that the main standard used by the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings (in 1066) was of this type.

DRAPING
(v) The decoration of a staff with a black cravat or long black ribbons (particularly but not exclusively on flags that cannot be half-masted) as a sign of mourning – a mourning ribbon – but see ‘cravat 2)’ (also ‘cravat 1’, ‘‘half-mast a flag’ ’ and ‘staff 2)’).

[draped flag]
National Flag of Spain Draped with a Mourning Ribbon (Antonio Gutiιrrez & Eugene Ipavec)

DRAPISTICS
An alternative term, proposed but never adopted, for the study of flags – see ‘vexillology’.
DRESS FLAG
See ‘indoor flag’.

[dress flag]
Dress/Indoor Flag of the Secretary of the Army, US (fotw)

DRESS KNOT
A decorative knot of cord (occasionally leather), possibly displaying the national colours or braided in gold/silver with or without contrasting thread, and attached to the sword – a port epee or sword knot (see also ‘aiguillette’).

[dress knot]
Officer’s Dress Knot, USN and USCG (marlowwhite.com)

Please note that the dress or sword knot is a decorative reminder of the lanyard, which in this instance ran from a sword’s guard to its user’s wrist, and could be worn (particularly, but not exclusively, by officers of the navy or cavalry) in order to prevent any loss during combat.
DRESS SHIP, TO
1) (v) Generally, the practice of decorating a naval vessel for special occasions, such as national days, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by stringing dressing lines between the masts (and down to the ensign and jack staffs), and with national flags at the mastheads - dressing ship, dressing overall or full dressing (see also 'national flag', 'dressing lines' 'ensign staff', 'jack staff' and 'masthead').
2) (v) Specifically, in US naval usage, the practice of decorating a warship during lesser commemorative occasions, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by displaying the ensign and jack together with an ensign at each masthead, but without the dressing lines – but see 'dressing overall 2)' (see also 'dressing lines', 'masthead', 'naval ensign' under 'ensign' and 'naval jack' under 'jack').
3) (v) Specifically in British Royal Navy and some other naval usage, the practice of decorating a warship with jack, ensign and masthead flags/ensign(s) but without the dressing lines, when underway within sight of a port or anchorage during dress ship occasions – but see 'dressing overall 3)'.
4) (v) The practice of merchant vessels (especially passenger liners) and yachts to decorate themselves with strings of dressing lines on special occasions such as maiden voyage departure and arrival, or on other occasions ordered by the shipping company or club.

[dressing ship example]
A Warship of the South African Navy Dressed Overall (Andries Burgers)

Notes
a) Warships not directly involved in the occasion being celebrated, but who are berthed in the presence or in sight of ships that are, will also dress as a courtesy according to the local practice, using the ensign or national flag of the celebrant at the main masthead in lieu of their own ensign or national flag.
b) This is a continuation of the earlier maritime practice (dating from at least the 16th Century) of hanging out every flag available by way of celebration, but that in modern navies and some merchant marine companies both the occasions for display and the make-up of dressing lines is strictly regulated (with this last being confined to signal flags only).

DRESSED
See ‘garnished’.

[dressed] [dressed]
Arms and Flag of Cabanas de Tavira, Portugal (Sιrgio Horta)

DRESSING LINES
Signal flags and pennants made up in decorative strings according to the size and configuration of ship they are to be used on and also according to ordered patterns laid down by naval authorities in the case of warships, or commercial companies in the case of merchant vessels – rainbow lines (see also ‘dress ship, to 1)’, ‘dress ship, to 4)’ and ‘dressing overall’).
DRESSING (or DRESSED) OVERALL
1) See ‘dress ship, to 1)’ and ‘dress ship, to 4)’.
2) (v or adj) In US naval usage the practice of decorating a vessel for major commemorative occasions, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by stringing dressing lines between the masts (and down to the ensign and jack staffs), and with a jack and ensign at the bow and stern, and national flags at the mastheads – but see ‘dress ship, to 2)’.
3) (v or adj) In British Royal Navy and some other usage decorating a vessel for commemorative occasions, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by stringing dressing lines between the masts (and down to the ensign and jack staffs), and with a jack and ensign at the bow and stern, and national flags at the mastheads – but see ‘dress ship, to 3)/a>’.
DRESSING SHIP
See ‘dress ship, to 1)’ and ‘dress ship, to 4)’.
DRIEKLEUR
The national flag of The Netherlands see ‘tricolour 2)’ (also ‘double prince’, ‘Dutch colours 1)’, ‘princeflag’ and and ‘triple prince’).

[Netherlands flag]
National Flag of The Netherlands (fotw)

DRUM BANNER
See ‘bannerette’ and ‘war banner’.
DUTCH COLOURS
1) The term used when the colours and/or design of a flag is (or was) based upon the Dutch driekleur and/or princeflag – see ‘driekleur’ and ‘princeflag’.
2) See ‘pan-Slavic colours’ with its following note.
3) See ‘colours’.

[Netherlands flag] [princeflag] [Transvaal] [South Africa flag] [Orange Free State flag]
National Flag of The Netherlands; Princeflag, The Netherlands; Flag of The Transvaal 1857 – 1902; National Flag of South Africa 1928 – 1994; Flag of The Orange Free State 1856 – 1902 (fotw)

Please note with regard to 2, that (despite the inclusion of orange) some sources list these with the ‘pan-Slavic colours’.

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