- FLAG PATCH
- A small representation of a flag sewn or otherwise fixed onto an item of clothing,
usually but not invariably on the upper sleeve, and often used by military personnel
– a shoulder patch.
- FLAG PATRON
- In largely Central European usage, a term for that person who provided funding for the production
of a ceremonial flag, or is otherwise being honoured by the organization whose flag it is –
but see ‘consecration’ with its following note (also
‘ceremonial flag 1)’).
- FLAG PIN
- See ‘lapel flag 1)’.
![[flag pin]](../images/v/vxt-d899b.jpg)
![[flag pin]](../images/v/vxt-d899a.jpg)
Two flag pins (worldflags4u)
- FLAG PLATE
- 1) A single illustration or series of illustrations (almost invariably coloured)
on a single page (or pages) which is printed separately (for reasons of production
cost) and inserted into an otherwise completed book of textual information (see also
‘flag book’ and ‘flag chart’).
- 2) A term that may be used to describe those rigid plates that may replace the equivalent
signal flags in some European regulations for inland navigation (see also
‘signal flags’).
- 3) See ‘rank plate’.
- 4) A term sometimes incorrectly used to describe a piece of tableware, often (but
not invariably) produced by shipping companies, that bears the illustration of a flag.
- FLAG PLEDGE
- See ‘flag salute’.
- FLAG POLE (or FLAGPOLE)
- The post of wood, metal or a synthetic material upon which a flag is hoisted
by means of a halyard, - a flag mast or flag staff, but see
‘outrigger pole’ (also
‘cone tapered’,
‘finial’,
‘halyard’,
‘Venetian entasis taper’
and ‘truck’).
Please note however, that the terms flag staff,
flag mast and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and
staff when used alone have specific meanings (see also
‘mast 1)’, staff 1) and ‘staff 2)’).
- FLAG PROPOSAL
- The term which covers any flag suggested as an alternative to a design currently used,
or one of those designs from which the choice of a new flag is to be made, or for a design
that has been so proposed in the past but never accepted, (see also
‘ausflag’ and
‘flag design competition’).
Proposal for a New Flag of Minnesota, 2002, USA (fotw);
Rejected Change to the National Flag of Australia, 1997 (fotw);
Rejected Design for the National Flag of The Bahamas, 1973 (fotw);
Rejected Change to the National Flag of Cyprus, 2004 (fotw)
- FLAG PROTOCOL
- See ‘flag etiquette’ (also
‘Appendix II’).
- FLAG RANK
- See ‘flag officer’ and its following note.
Rear Admiral (Lower Half, Rear Admiral (Upper Half), Vice Admiral and Admiral,
South Korea (fotw)
- FLAG RESEARCH
- See vexillology.
- FLAG SAIL
- A term for the occasional practice of creating (or illustrating) a sail in the form of an appropriate national
(or possibly provincial) flag or ensign (see also ‘armorial sail’).
The National Flag of Canada as a square sail (Željko Heimer)
Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no established
alternative could be found.
- FLAG SALUTE
- 1) An oath of allegiance through a ceremony involving the national flag –
flag pledge. Flag salutes are required of military personnel in most countries,
but when done by civilians, it is usually (but not invariably) out of custom.
- 2) A term also sometimes used to indicate a salute made with a flag – as in
for example - a merchant vessel dipping its flag to a warship (see also
‘dipping’).
- 3) See ‘salute to the flag’.
- FLAG SIGNALS
- See 'signal hoist'.
![[colour belt example]](../images/v/vxt-d1967a.gif)
![[colour belt example]](../images/v/vxt-d1967b.gif)
![[colour belt example]](../images/v/vxt-d1967c.gif)
US4 (Uniform-Sierra-4) in The International Code of Signal Flags or nothing can be
done until the weather moderates (fotw)
- FLAG SLING
- See 'flag belt'.
![[colour belt example]](../images/v/vxt-d1257.gif)
Flag Sling/Belt According to Spanish Regulations (Reglamento de Banderas Actualizado)
- FLAG SPREADER
- In largely (but not exclusively) US usage a metal implement designed to ensure
that an indoor flag is properly displayed when hung from a vertical, freestanding
pole (see also
indoor flag and
tangle rod).
![[flag spreader example]](../images/v/vxt-d1549.jpg)
Gettysburgflag.com
- FLAG STAFF (or FLAGSTAFF)
- See ‘flagpole (also mast
1), staff 1), and
‘staff 2)’).
Please note that the terms flagstaff, flag mast
and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and staff
when used alone have specific meanings.
- FLAG STATE
- The country in which a vessel or aircraft is registered, documented or licensed,
and whose flag it is entitled to display.
- FLAG STUDIES
- See vexillology.
- FLAG-ON-A-FLAG (FLAG-ON-FLAG or FOF)
- A term used when one or more of the main charges on a flag (usually but not invariably
part of a coat of arms or emblem) include the depiction of another flag or flags forming
an integral part of the design - a flag-on-flag (see also ‘coat of arms 1)’ and
‘emblem’).
From left: National Flag and Arms of Ecuador (fotw); National
Flag and Arms of Haiti (fotw); National Flag of South Africa 1928 – 1994 (fotw)
Please note that this category does not include those flags
or ensigns whose canton consists of another flag (such as the British or Indian red
ensigns) and for which the term canton flags should be used (see
‘canton flag’).
- FLAG-TOSSING (THROWING or TWIRLING)
- A sport and folk custom, particularly of Italy and Switzerland, in which flags
are twirled and tossed in the air – a survival and extension of the standard 17th
Century military practice of postures (see also
‘palio’ and
‘postures’).
Please note that an (as far is known) unrelated local ceremony of
flourishing flags, called casting the colours, occurs annually in Selkirk, Scotland.
- FLAG-WAVING
- Use of the national flag, literally or figuratively to justify actions or
principles, or to excite patriotic fervour.
- FLAGHEIGHT
- See ‘width 1)’.
![[flag height]](../images/v/vxt-d1579a.gif)
- FLAGLET
- The term sometimes used to describe a miniature flag - but see
‘car flag’,
‘handwaver’ and
‘table flag’.
Please note that the Editors consider this term too generic to be useful, and that the more precise descriptions
given above are to be preferred in description.
- FLAGOID
- A recently coined, term which is used to describe the illustration of a flag, or of a
flag-like object, which is not intended to represent any flag in actual use, but which has
the backing of some credible source and/or which employs a widely recognized emblem as part
of its design – but see ‘fictional flag’ and
‘fictitious flag’. For example the official coat of arms of the
Mexican province of Hidalgo includes the national flag of Mexico and a flagoid (a non-existent
blue rectangular version of the Guadeloupe processional banner known to have been in use c1810).
![[flagoid example]](../images/v/vxt-d152.gif)
The Arms of Hidalgo, Mexico (fotw)
- FLAGPOLE PENNANT
- A direct translation of the Dutch term vlaggestok wimpel) - see
‘wimpel 1)’ and
‘wimpel 2)’
(also ‘provincial wimpel’).
![[flagpole pennnant]](../images/v/vxt-d1486.gif)
Flagpole Pennant/Wimpel of Harlingen, The Notherlands (fotw)
- FLAGS
- 1) In US naval usage, a traditional nickname for signalmen whose duties include the display
and care of signal flags and ensigns – but see
‘bunting tosser’ (also
‘flag bag’ and
‘yeoman of signals’).
- 2) In British Royal Navy and some other usage, a traditional nickname for the flag lieutenant – see
‘flag lieutenant’.
- FLAGS AND FUNNELS
- The phrase used to describe a (usually illustrated) list of distinguishing flags or pennants
as detailed in ‘house flag 1)’, and the sometimes matching
funnel liveries shown by ships of that company.
House Flags and Funnels: Hawkes Bay H.B. 1986, New Zeeland (CS); Luigi Pittaluga 1940, Italy (CS); James Deane and Co., Australia 1885 (CS); Tolani Shipping Co., India (CS)
- FLAGS AS VICTORY MARKINGS
- See victory markings’).
An Aircraft of WWII showing Victory Markings (militariaforum.com)
- FLAGSHIP
- A naval vessel flying the flag of a flag officer or the broad pennant of a
commodore (see also ‘broad pennant’,
flag captain, flag lieutenant, ‘flag of command
1)’ and ‘flag officer’).
HMS Iron Duke wearing the Flag of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe 1915, UK (wiki); Sir Johns Command Flag (fotw)
Please note that in British RN and some other usage,
a naval vessel in commission which does not carry an officer described above is
a ‘private ship’ (see also
‘command pennant’,
‘masthead pennant 1)’ and
‘private ship’).
- FLAGS IN FICTION
- See fictional flag and fictitious flag.
Flag of San Carlo from the Film Princess Protection Program (fotw); Spurious Soviet Naval Flag from the
Film K19 (fotw)
