Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Surfing Flag - Symmetrical Outwardly Stepped)

Last modified: 2016-03-30 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

• SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)
• SURMOUNTED BY
• SURTOUT
• SWAG (or SWAGGED)
• SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)
• SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE
• SWASTIKA
• SWORD
• SWORD CROSS
• SWORD KNOT
• SWORD OF ALI
• SYMBOL
• SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)

See ‘beach flag’.

Surfing Flag UK and Surfing Pennant France (fotw)

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SURMOUNTED BY

1) In vexillology a term that may be used when one charge is placed above or at the top of another – but see ‘above 1)’ (also ‘charge 1)’).

2) In heraldry the term used when an ordinary or a charge (or charges) is (or are) placed over – that is in front of – another as per the examples given below, and which generally (although not exclusively) touches the field – but see the notes below, ‘debruised’ and ‘overall 2)’) (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘throughout’.

Flag of Santa Eulàlia de Riuprimer; Spain (fotw); Naval Flag of the Christ’s Knights Order 17thC, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Vilabertran, Spain (fotw)

Notes
a) The correct heraldic term for a charge (such as a crown or coronet) placed above rather than over - that is in front of - another is ‘ensigned’.
b) Also please note, it is suggested that a glossary or dictionary or heraldry be consulted with regard to comparative use of the terms “overall” and “surmounted by”.

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SURTOUT

See ‘overall 2)’.

Flag of Chêne-Bourg, Switzerland (fotw)

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SWAG (or SWAGGED)

See ‘fan’ (also ‘bunting 2)’).

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SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)

1) A V-shaped cut in the fly of a flag or pennant and forming two points - fork/forked tail or fork-tailed - but see 'double pointed' (also ‘crutch’ ‘fly 1)’, ‘indentation(s)’, ‘orthogonal’, ‘palm’, ‘rounded swallow-tail’ and ‘hussar cut’).

2) adj A flag or pennant having such a cut or cuts in the fly (see also ‘swallowtail and tongue’, ‘triangular-tongued’ and ‘triple-tailed 2)’)..

Naval Ensign of Germany (fotw); State Ensign of Saar, Germany (fotw); Flag of Galanta, Slovakia (fotw)

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SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE

A flag as above, but having a third tail between the other two and so coming to three points at the fly - triple-tailed or tongued, or three-tongued, or a double- or triple-swallowtail (see also ‘indentation(s)’ ‘palm’, ‘square-tongued’, ‘tails’, ‘tongue(s) 1)’, ‘triangular-tongued’ and ‘triple-tailed 2)’).

   
From left: War Flag/State Flag/Naval Ensign of Norway (fotw); War Flag/Naval Ensign of Finland (fotw); Naval Ensign of Sweden (fotw); Flag of Bajc, Slovakia (CS)

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SWASTIKA

An ancient symbol in the form of an equal-armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, presently used (running anti-clockwise) as the emblem of a Chinese humanitarian organization founded in 1922, (in a clock-wise form) on the presidential flag of Finland, and until 1945 as the emblem of the German Nazi Party – a crooked/hooked cross, fylfot or cross potent rebated (see also ‘appendix VIII’, ‘arrow cross’, ‘cross 2)’, ‘rune(s)’ and ‘sun cross’).

From left: China, 1922 - (CS); The National Flag, Germany 1933-45; National Socialist White People's Party 1976, US (Tomislav Todorovic); Air Force Squadron Flag, Finland (fotw)

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SWORD

A sharp-edged weapon consisting of a blade and a hilt (handle), that may be equipped with a handguard and usually also a pommel. Swords vary much with period and region, although in general the name refers to a weapon having a double-edged blade, with a hilt, cross-guard and pommel, and based upon a classical Roman short-sword - the gladius (see also ‘saber’, ‘scimitar’ and ‘zulfikar’.

Flag of Bohuslän, Sweden (fotw); Flag of San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta (fotw); Arms of Żory, Poland (fotw); Flag of Haarlem, The Netherlands (fotw)

Please note that the many types of sword are beyond the remit of this dictionary, and it is suggested that a suitable source be consulted if further details are required.

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SWORD CROSS

See ‘cross fitchy’ in ‘appendix VIII’ and ‘cross of Santiago’.

Flag and Arms of Alcoutim, Portugal (Sérgio Horta)

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SWORD OF ALI

See ‘zulfikar’.

Standard of the Bey of Tunis c1860 - 1957 (fotw)

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SWORD KNOT

See ‘dress knot’.

Officer’s Sword/Dress Knot, USN and USCG (marlowwhite.com)

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SYMBOL

1) Generically, the vexilloid, flag, coat of arms, emblem or badge that may be considered representative or symbolic of a nation, region, municipality, people, organization or cause – see ‘badge 1)’, ‘coat of arms 1), ‘emblem 1)’, ‘emblem, military or governmental’, ‘emblem, state or national’, ‘vexilloid 1)’ and ‘vexilloid 1)’.

2) Specifically, see ‘Logo 1)’.

 
Former Flag of the Nordic Council (fotw); Arms of Jesenice, Slovenia (fotw); Former Flag of Azuma, Japan (Tomislav Šipek)

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SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

See ‘stepped gonfalon’.

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