- CABLE NUMBER
- A code number identifying a precise shade of colour in the system developed
by the Color Association of the United States, usually associated with a specific
name, and used in the official specifications of US government and military flags.
- CABLED
- The term for a charge, particularly an anchor, that is shown complete with its cable
but see foul anchor (also
charge).
From left: Flag of the Minister of Defence, Uruguay (fotw); Naval Jack of Ecuador (fotw)
- CABOSHED (CABOSSED OR CABOOCHED)
- See appendix V
- CADENCY, MARK OF
- A heraldic term for the mark of difference added to an escutcheon to indicate
that the bearer is heir to the owner, or a direct descendent of the family to
which the primary coat of arms belongs, or that the person is a member of a related
branch of the same family differencing.
Please note however, that the form these marks take
may vary from country to country for example the cadency label is used on
several British royal banners in deference to (although not in strict accordance
with) English heraldic practice, whilst traditional Scottish heraldry is more
likely to employ a bordure and other European traditions may change the colour
of a charge. It is suggested therefore, that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary
be consulted for further details (see also
armorial bearings,
coat of arms
and shield).
![[cadency marks]](../images/v/vxt-d062.gif)
The cadency marks of the 1st to the 6th son in English heraldry (Parker)
- CADUCEUS
- The magic wand of Hermes with two serpents wound around a winged staff; formerly a symbol
of the occult and of alchemists (amongst others), it is now more often associated with medical institutions
(see also Staff of Asclepius).
From left: Flag of the Army Surgeon General and Emblem of the Army Medical
Corps, US (fotw)
Please note that this should not be confused with the Staff of Asclepius
as referenced above, which has only one snake on an unadorned staff and is symbolic of the medical profession.
- CALL SIGN
- Every vessel at sea is allocated an international call sign consisting of
at least four letters for identification purposes by any means of signalling available,
including flags see call sign hoist below.
Please note that the international call sign is
made up of two letters identifying the country of registration and additional
flags identifying the particular ship. Most navies also prescribe tactical call
signs according to their own naval signal codes and which is used intra-service
for operational purposes. Warships also generally hoist their international call
signs at the yardarm when entering or leaving harbour (see also
yardarm).
- CALL SIGN HOIST
- A hoist of signal flags displaying the international call sign of a ship (see
also 'call sign',
hoist 2),
making her number and
signal flag).
- CALVARY CROSS
- See cross of Calvary in appendix VIII.
- CAMBRIDGE FLAG
- See continental colours.
- CAMP COLOUR (or COLOR)
- 1) An alternative term for a company colour in some regiments of British and
Canadian foot guards (but see also company colour
and note below).
- 2) See camp flag.
- 3) A term, now largely obsolete, for a small military flag originally used
to delineate the boundaries of a regiment&'s encampment and later used in some
armies as a company guide flag, to mark turning points in manoeuvring troops
(but see also fanion 3)).
Please note that as far as is known this term is
used by the British Grenadier Guards, the Grenadier Guards of Canada and the Governor
Generals Foot Guards (also Canada) in place of company colour.
- CAMP SILK
- See camp colour 1) and
company colour.
- CAMP FLAG
- In the British and some other army usage, a non-ceremonial flag, often
containing the relevant badge against regimental colours, and used to indicate
the presence of a unit, Corps or Regiment within a camp or other location a
regimental or headquarters flag (see also
badge 3),
emblem military and governmental and
regimental colours 2)).
Camp Flag of the British Army Air Corps (Graham Bartram); Camp Flag of the
British Royal Regiment of Artillery (Graham Bartram)
- CANADIAN PALE
- A term used when the central stripe in a vertical triband or tricolour has
internal proportions of 1-2-1 as in the Canadian national flag but see note
below and unequal triband
(also proportions 2), pale
in Appendix VI, ,
triband and
tricolour).
National Flag of Canada (CS); Flag of North West Territories, Canada (fotw));
Flag of Benαtky and Jizerou, Czech Republic (fotw)
Please note, it is suggested that the entry on pale and/or
a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted before using this term, and that if used
at all it should apply only to Canadian Flags.
- CANTABRIAN LABARUM
- The flag of the Cantabrian independence movement showing a wheel-like emblem that is
considered symbolic of the ancient Cantabrians of Northern Spain.
![[Cantabrian Lebarum]](../images/v/vxt-d066.gif)
The Cantabrian Labarum (fotw)
- CANTABRARII
- Bearers of the cantabrum - but see below.
- CANTABRUM
- It is proposed by some sources that this is the standard used by later Roman
Emperors and believed to have been a type of vexillum (see also
vexillum).
Please note - not to be confused with a cantabrian labarum
(see 'cantabrian labarum').
- CANTING
- An originally heraldic term for when the design on a shield or banner of arms
forms a pun on the name or attributes of the entity or person represented
allusive arms or armes parlantes (see
also armorial bearings).
![[Queens Mothers flag - canting]](../images/v/vxt-d067.gif)
Standard of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the
Queen Mother, UK, the Royal Arms of Great Britain impaled with quartered Bows
and Lions for her family name of Bowes-Lyon (fotw)
- CANTON
- 1) Commonly, all or part of the upper hoist or first - quarter of a flags
field that has not vertical divisions and/or otherwise undivided - the canton (see also
Appendix I and
quarter 1)).
- 2) A rectangular (or square) area of colour or design different from the field
in the above position, which may occupy exactly one quarter of the flag or a larger
or smaller area (see also canton flag below,
covering,
quarter 1) and
Union).
- One of the four quarters of a flag, divided horizontally and vertically into:
- (1) the upper hoist or upper hoist canton,
- (2) the upper fly or upper fly canton,
- (3) the lower hoist or lower hoist canton and
- (4) the lower fly or lower fly canton
- corresponding to quarters one to four of a shield divided quarterly (see also Appendix I,
grand quarter,
quarter 2),
quarterly,
hoist and
fly).
- 4) In heraldry as definition 2) except (although apparently of no fixed size)
heraldic use frequently suggests that a canton should occupy one-third of the
chief (see also chief).
![[absence example]](../images/v/vxt-d656.gif)
![[absence example]](../images/v/vxt-d656a.gif)
![[absence example]](../images/v/vxt-d656b.gif)
![[absence example]](../images/v/vxt-d656c.gif)
![[absence example]](../images/v/vxt-d656d.gif)
From left: National Flag of Liechtenstein (fotw); Flag of Kelantan, Malaysia (fotw); National Flag of Liberia (fotw)
- CANTON FLAG
- 1) A term used to describe the canton of a flag, or to describe the flag
itself, when its canton consists of another flag, as in for example the civil
ensigns of Australia and India, and the island flag of Nevis a nationally
cantoned flag
(see also armorial ensign,
canton 2), civil ensign under ensign
and colonial flag).
- 2) See cantonal flag.
From left: Civil Ensign of Australia (fotw); Civil Ensign of
India (fotw); Flag of the Island of Nevis, St Kitts and Nevis (fotw)
- CANTON OF ST GEORGE
- See St Georges Cross 2) (also
canton flag above).
- CANTONAL FLAG (or BANNER)
- The sub-national flag of a territorial division within a country, particularly if that subdivision
is is called a canton - e.g. one of the cantons which make up the Swiss Confederation (see also
sub-national flag).
Flag of Bern, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Posavina, Bosnia-Herzegovina (fotw)
- CANTONED CROSS
- See cross cantonιe in appendix VIII.
- CAP BADGE
See badge 3).
- CAPTURED FLAG
- See trophy flag.
