- 'F' CROSS
- See one-and-a-half armed cross.
- FACETED
- The term which may be used to describe a charge (such as a star or sun) that is given a three-dimensional
appearance by the use of contrasting colours or of simple construction lines - sectored (see also
counterchanged).
From left: House Flag of Stern und Kreis, Germany (fotw); Flag of Mollis, Switzerland (fotw);
Emblem from the State Ensign of Singapore (CS)
- FAKE FLAG
- 1) An imprecise term sometimes (incorrectly) used for an erroneously
reported flag instead of the precise terms fictional or fictitious flag see
fictional flag and fictitious flag
(also flagoid).
- 2) See false flag 1)
Please note that this term may be considered as a logical impossibility
since any flag, or depiction of a flag, whether fictional, fictitious remains a flag whatever its
real status as long as it meets the basic definition of flag as given herein.
- FALLING DIAGONAL
- See 'descending diagonal'.
- FALSE COLOURS (or COLORS)
- An ensign or other flag displayed by a vessel not entitled to it, and usually (but not invariably)
employed by warships as a ruse de guerre (see also
colours 4) and
false flag 1) below).
Please note that this practice is considered perfectly
acceptable providing the correct ensign is raised before the commencement of hostilities.
- FALSE FLAG (or ENSIGN)
- 1) The term which may be used for a flag or ensign that is made to resemble an established
or historic design in order to deceive the observer, either as to origins of the flag itself,
or the identity of those displaying it.
- 2) See false colours above.
- FAN
- A semi-circular patriotic decoration in bunting of flag design and/or colours
- a swag
(see also bunting 2)).
- FANS FLAG/PENNANT
- See sports flag 2).
- FANE
- 1) A medieval generic term, now obsolete, for any flag, banner or pennant.
Please note the similarity between this term and the
German Fahne or flag.
- 2) In Danish usage, a term that may be employed to describe flags (either military or civilian) carried in
a parade situation (see also colour 2) and
parade flag).
- FANION
- 1) A small bicolour used for marking a position in surveying (see also
bicolour).
- 2) A small pennant, usually in the regimental colours, that is used on military
vehicles for marker purposes a convoy flag (see also
pennant and
regimental colours 2)).
- 3) In French military usage, a small flag issued at company (or squadron) level
and originally employed as markers or camp colours, but which have acquired an
additional ceremonial role (see also
camp colour 1) and
camp colour 3))
Please note that usage 2) is a direct descendent
of the flag formerly carried at the head of an army baggage train.
- FANNELL
- A term, now obsolete, and the equivalent of a
vexillum or
banner.
- FANO
- A term, now obsolete, for a small flag on a ship (see also
fane).
- FEDERAL SERVICE FLAG
- See state flag 1) (also state service flag).
![[Federal Service Flag of Germany]](../images/v/vxt-d410.gif)
The Federal Service Flag of Austria (fotw)
- FERRULE
- A metal tip placed on the bottom of a staff (see also
pike and
staff 2)).
- FESS
- See Appendix VI.
- FESS-POINT (or FESSE-POINT)
- See honour point 2).
- FESSLET
- A heraldically derived term intended to mean a single, narrow horizontal stripe but see bar and barrulet in
appendix VI (also fess in appendix VI).
- FESSWISE
- See in fess.
- FESTIVE BANNER (or FLAG)
- See ceremonial ensign/flag 2).
- FICTIONAL FLAG
- A flag that appears in a work of fiction either visual or written - which may or may not have
physical existence as a flag - but which is (entirely or largely) a product of the authors
imagination (see also fictitious flag below).
![[flag from Star Trek]](../images/v/vxt-d572.gif)
Flag from the Science Fiction TV Series Star Trek (fotw)
- FICTITIOUS FLAG
- A flag or the illustration of a flag - that purports to represent an actual entity or person,
but for which no evidence of any such use by that entity or person exists but see flagoid (also
false flag 1) and fictional flag above).
![[flag from film Casablanca]](../images/v/vxt-d573.gif)
Spurious Flag of French Morocco from the film Casablanca (fotw)
- FIELD
- 1) The whole background or predominant colour of a flag the ground of a
flag.
- 2) In heraldry, the surface of a shield upon which charges or bearings are
blazoned, or of each separate coat when the shield is quartered or impaled (see
also blazon,
coat,
impale,
shield and
quarter).
- FIELD FLAG
- 1) In US military usage, a larger version of a positional flag designed for
hoisting on halyards outdoors under field conditions (see
positional flag).
- 2) In US military usage, a national flag of approximately the same size flown
with the positional field flag.
- FILET
- See appendix VI.
- FIMBRIATION (or FIMBRIATED)
- 1) Generically on flags, a (relatively) narrow band or line of contrasting
colour separating two areas of the same, similar or differing colour, such as a band, charge
or canton, from its field but see note below (also canton 1),
edging and
border).
- 2) Specifically and in heraldry, as above but a narrow band or line placed
on a shield, banner of arms or flag in accordance with the rule of tincture
see rule of tincture (also
bordersnd
multi-stripe
From left: Civil Ensign of Ghana (fotw); Civil Ensign of Saudi Arabia (fotw);
Civil Ensign of Spanish Morocco 1937 1956 (fotw); Flag of Cacinci, Croatia (fotw)
Please note with regard to 1) that a charge may have a double or even triple
fimbriation, and if so we suggest that you consult the entry for cotticed and its following note.
- FIN FLASH
- A term for the national colours when painted on the tail plane/fin of largely (but
not exclusively) military aircraft (see also
aircraft insignia,
aircraft marking(s),
roundel 1)
and national colours 2)).
Fin Flash of the Royal Australian Air Force (fotw)
- FINIAL
- A cast or carved ornament (such as a cross, crescent, crown or spearhead)
placed at the top of the flagpole, mast or flag staff above the truck or on the
top of a staff a staff ornament (see also Appendix I,
ferrule, flag pole,
pike,
staff 2) and
truck).
- FIRE ALERT FLAG
- In largely US usage, a flag with a red field and inscriptions raised in conjunction
with a wildfire danger warning by the Forestry Commissions of many states (see also
red flag 1)).
![[Fire Alert Flag - Oklahoma]](../images/v/vxt-d409.gif)
Red Fire Alert Flag of the Oklahoma Forestry Commission, US (CS)
