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Dictionary of Vexillology: D (Daimyo Flags - Dexter Edge)

Last modified: 2010-01-02 by phil nelson
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DAIMYO (or DAIMO) FLAGS
1) Generically, a term for those flags that were in use prior to the Japanese Imperial restoration of 1868/71 – a nobobi, hata-sashimono and/or sashimono (see also ‘hinomaru’ and ‘mon’)
2) Specifically, a term that refers to the personal and war flags of Japanese feudal lords, and in use until the 17th Century.

Daimo flags


DANCETTY (or DANCETTΙ)
The heraldic term used when an ordinary such as a fess, bend or pale, or the line of a division on a shield, banner of arms or flag, is saw-toothed – indented, dancettι, dentelι or dentilly - but see ‘serrated’ (also ‘ordinary’ and ‘wolfteeth’).

Arms - Nazarι, Portugal Flag - Nazarι, Portugal Arms - KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Flag - Tetouan 1968 – 76, Morocco
Arms and Flag Nazarι, Portugal (Antonio Martins); Arms of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (fotw); Flag of Tetouan 1968 – 76, Morocco (fotw)


DANGER FLAG
See ‘red flag 1)’.

DANNEBROG
Literally “Danish-cloth”, and the current national flag of Denmark. (see also ‘splittflag’)

Dannebrog
National Flag of Denmark (fotw)


DE FACTO
1. (adj) A generally employed Latin term for ‘in practice’, and used in vexillology to indicate flags in actual use as opposed to those as laid down by law or regulation (see also ‘de jure’ and the note below).
2. (adj) A term sometimes employed to describe a flag which is in use, but which has not been officially established by law or regulation – but see note below de jure.

DE JURE
(adj) A generally employed Latin term for ‘in law’, and used in vexillology to indicate a flag as laid down by law or regulation, as opposed to those in actual use (see also ‘flag law’, ‘de facto’, ‘specification sheet’, and the notes below).

Please note, it is suggested that the above terms should not be used when describing a flag for which no known official specifications exist, therefore, no de jure design from which a de facto flag may differ, and under these circumstances we recommend that the term “variant” be employed - see ‘variant 2)’.

Please note also that an example of de jure as opposed to de facto is the proportions of the Belgian national flag which is regulated at 13:15, but which is most often see in practice with the civil ensign ratio of 2:3.

Belgium Belgium civil ensigh
National Flag of Belgium as regulated, plus the Civil Ensign of Belgium as regulated (which is also the de facto National Flag)


DEBASED
See ‘reversed 2)’.

DEBRUISED
A heraldic term used in place of ‘surmounted by’ particularly when a charge or ordinary (which may or may not touch the field) is being placed over an animal – but see ‘surmounted, by’ (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘overall 2)’).

L’Abbaye, Switzerland
Flag of L’Abbaye, Switzerland (fotw)


DECKING
A term for the custom of foot guards in British and Canadian service of placing a garland or chaplet of laurel – a crown triumphal - at the top of the regimental colour pike or staff on days of significance in regimental history (see also ‘colour 2), ‘colours 2)’, ‘crown triumphal’, ‘garland’, ‘pike’, ‘staff 2)’ and ‘wreath of immortelles’).

DECOMMISSIONING PENNANT
See ‘paying off pennant’.

DECORATED
See ‘garnished’.

DECRESCENT (or DECREMENT)
See ‘moon 2)’ with following note.

DEFACE
1. (v) In UK usage and some others, a term for the addition of any authorised (or apparently authorized) emblem, badge, shield, charge or device to a flag (see also ‘archivexillum’, ‘badge’, ‘charge’, 'device', ‘emblem’ ‘shield’) and 'undefaced'.
2. (v) In US usage and some others, the term may also be used to include any unauthorized addition – but see note below.

Please note that in heraldry and vexillology the term has no pejorative connotation (but see also ‘desecrate’ and/or 'disfigure').


DEMI (or DEMY)
The heraldic term used when the front or upper half of an animal, or one-half of another charge is shown on a shield, banner of arms or a flag but see note below – demy or semi.

Pardubice, Czech Republic Romoos, Switzerland Gurtmellen, Switzerland
Flag of Pardubice, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of Romoos, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Gurtmellen, Switzerland (fotw)

Please note, however, that one-half of an animal or other charge that is placed against the centre line of a shield, banner of arms or a flag, is said to be ‘dimidiated’.

Also please note that this term is never used alone, but always with the charge being so described – for example a demi-horse as shown above.


DEMONSTRATION BANNER
See ‘banner 3)’.
DENTELΙ (or DENTILLY)
See ‘dancetty’ (also ‘serrated’).

DEPTH
See ‘width 1)’.

DESCATE
(adj) A term used to describe a rounded (or lanceolate) fly into which a ‘V’ shaped notch has been cut, and a shape often seen in UK cavalry guidons – cloven descate or rounded swallowtail (see also ‘fly 1)’, ‘guidon 2)’, ‘hussar cut’, ‘lanceolate’, ‘pennant’ and ‘swallow tail(ed)’).

[descate flag]
Guidon of the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch, UK (Herman FMY)


DESCENDING DIAGONAL
1) The term for a diagonal stripe that runs from the upper hoist to the lower fly, and is centred on the corners of the flag – a bend, falling diagonal or hoist-diagonal - but see ‘bend’ in Appendix VI and Appendix IX(also ‘ascending diagonal’, ‘east-south diagonal’, ‘east-west diagonal’, ‘north-east diagonal’, ‘north-south diagonal’, ‘south-east diagonal’, ‘south-north diagonal’, ‘west-east diagonal’, ‘west-north diagonal’, and ‘west-south diagonal’.
2) The term may also be used to describe the division line on a bicolour divided diagonally as shown below – but see ‘per bend 1)’ (also ‘bicolour 1)’).

Parα, Brazil Rašov, Czech Republic
Flag of Parα, Brazil (fotw); Flag of Rašov, Czech Republic (fotw)


DESECRATE
1) (v) To maliciously damage or mistreat a flag for political or other motives, or to use a flag in a way that is considered disrespectful or inappropriate (see also ‘rules of respect’ and ‘Appendix II’).
2) See ‘disfigure’.

DESIGNATING (OF HEADQUARTERS) FLAG
See ‘headquarters flag 2)’.

DESK FLAG (or DESK TOP FLAG)
See ‘table flag’.

DESTINATION FLAG
The term describing a custom whereby the flag of the country of destination may be flown at the fore by a merchant ship or pleasure vessel when about to sail (see also ‘fore’).

DEVICE
1) Originally a heraldic term for a temporary mark extra to the coat of arms to distinguish those who entered the lists at tournaments, it now refers specifically to the ‘motto (see ‘motto’).
2) A term sometimes inaccurately applied to a charge, badge or emblem (see also ‘badge’, ‘charge’ and ‘emblem’).

DEXTER
The heraldic term for the right hand side of a flag or shield from the point of view of the bearer, or the left hand side from the point of view of an observer (see also ‘sinister’).

DEXTER EDGE
1. With regard to a shield see ‘dexter’ above.
2. A term that may be used in describing the left hand facing edge of a banner or gonfalon which is hung from a crossbar, and equivalent to the top edge of a conventionally hoisted flag – the leading edge (see also ‘banner 2)’ and ‘gonfalon’).

dexter edge example


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