- MAGEN DAVID
- The Shield or Star of David composed of two interlaced triangles forming a
six pointed star, and symbolic of Judaism (see also menorah).
Naval Ensign of Israel (fotw)
Please note that the Magen David is also known as
the Seal of Solomon and as such may be represented with five points as it now
appears on the flags of Ethiopia and Morocco (based on the Hebrew Encyclopaedia).
- MAGIC RATIO
- See golden mean.
- MAIL FLAG (or PENNANT)
- See postal flag.
- MAIN
- The most important mast in a ship or yacht, or the tallest mast in a sailing
ship from which the masthead pennant or the command flag of a full admiral (or
five star/Admiral of the Fleet) was formerly flown (see also
flag of command,
fore, mast 2),
masthead, masthead pennant 1)
and mizzen).
- MAKE HER NUMBER
- (v) To hoist that group of signal flags which identify a ship in a recognized
code (see also International Code of Signal Flags,
private signal and
signal flag).
- MAKING COLOURS
- See colours 5).
- MALTESE CROSS
- The heraldic term for a cross resembling four arrowheads, with
straight-sided arms, eight outward facing points and generally (but not
exclusively), inner points which meet
at the centre but see cross pattιe
in appendix VIII (also cross 2)).
From left: Medical Services, Spain (fotw); Flag of Polzela, Slovenia (fotw);
Grand Master of the Military Order of Malta (fotw); Arms and Flag of Lagow,
Poland (CS)
- MANTLE
- A heraldic term for a cloak or robe behind the shield, and which can enclose
a full set of armorial bearings (see also Appendix IV
and armorial bearings).
Please note that when used on the arms of a ruling
prince or sovereign a mantle becomes a pavilion (see
pavilion), however, mantles may still be seen in
the parliamentary and state robes worn by British peers (which are graded according
to rank).
- MANTLING
- A heraldic term for the decoration resembling drapery in a coat of arms, and
attached to the helmet by a torse (see also Appendix IV,
armorial bearings,
coat of arms and,
helm for information on torse see
wreath 2)).
- MARKING (or MARKER) PENNANT
- In US military usage and some others, a pennant used to mark the turning points
or limits of a parade ground (see also pennant 2)).
- MARRYAT
- See the note after International Code of Signal Flags.
- MASCLE
- The heraldic term for a lozenge from which the centre has been removed thus leaving an outline
only - a voided lozenge or lozenge-voided see
lozenge (also
voided).
Example: Flag of Landivisiau, France (fotw)
- MASONED
- A heraldic term used to describe the lines formed by masonry blocks in a building.
Flag of Castile and Leon, Spain (fotw); Flag of Romont, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Oberkirch, Switzerland (fotw)
- MAST
- 1) Any vertical projection from a vessel upon which sails and/or flags can
be hoisted (see also fore,
mizzen and stumpmast).
- 2) See flag pole (also
pole mast,
sailors mast and
stayed mast).
- MASTHEAD
- The highest point below the truck of any mast afloat or ashore (see also
mast and truck).
- MASTHEAD, AT THE
- (adv) When a flag is flown at the truck of a mast or at a point below the
truck, it is said to fly 'at the masthead'
- MASTHEAD FLAG
- 1) Generically, any flag hoisted at the masthead of a vessel (see also
mast and masthead).
- 2) Specifically, the national flags hoisted at the masthead of all masts when
a ship is dressed overall, usually the national flag of the nation being honoured
(see also dress ship).
- MASTHEAD PENNANT
- 1) A flag, usually long and narrow and generally (but not exclusively) tapering
from hoist to fly, it can be triangular, cut off to a square end or swallow-tailed,
and is flown from the main masthead of a naval or other public vessel in commission
but which does not carry a flag officer (or officer commanding other vessels)
on board commissioning or commission pennant, narrow pennant, pennant of
command, war or warship pennant or of a warship commander and others (see also
broad pennant,
burgee command pennant,
command pennant,
flag officer,
flag of command,
flagship,
naval ensign under ensign,
naval jack under jack,
private ship and
a href="vxt-dvs4.html#suitofflags">suit of flags).
- 2) The generic name for any long narrow flag that is flown from the masthead
of a vessel a whip pennant
(see also streamer,
homeward bound pennant or
paying off pennant).
Please note that a distinction has been drawn between
the standard masthead pennant flown by commissioned warships as defined in 1)
above, and the various command pennants that are flown in addition and subordinate
to it (see also command pennant).
Please note also however, that there are two exceptions to this the
broad pennant
and the burgee command pennant -
both of which replace the masthead pennant when flown.
![[Masthead Pennant - Spain]](../images/v/vxt-d207.gif)
Masthead Pennant of Spain
![[Masthead Pennant - Belgium]](../images/v/vxt-d209.gif)
Masthead Pennant of Belgium
![[Masthead Pennant - France]](../images/v/vxt-d211.gif)
Masthead Pennant of France
- MASTHEAD STREAMER
- See streamer 2).
- MEDIATED
- See dimidiated.
- MEAL PENNANT
- 1) See dinner flag.
- 2) In US usage the practice, almost certainly obsolete, of flying a red triangular
pennant from the port yardarm (or spreader) of a pleasure vessel when the crew are at
meals a crews meal pennant (see also
dinner flag,
guest on board flag,
owner absent flag
and yardarm).
Meal Pennant, US (fotw)
- MEMBERED
- The heraldic term used when the legs of a bird are of a different tincture from that of its
body (see also armed 2),
attired,
beaked,
langued and
tincture).
Flag and Arms of Biale Blota, Poland (Jarig Bakker); Flag of Neuchβtel, Switzerland (fotw);
Flag of Bergenhusen, Germany (fotw)
- MEMORIAL FLAG
- 1) In largely (but not exclusively) US usage, a small national flag (affixed to a short staff)
which, on specified memorial occasions, is implanted on the graves at military cemeteries a
grave decoration flag.
- 2) A flag designed to memorialize one or more persons, or to express sympathy for people in a
specific situation. Such flags may or may not be officially recognized, and are sometimes created
by adding symbols or wording to a national or other recognized flag.
- 3) See commemorative flag.
POW-MIA Flag, US and Canada (fotw) 9/11 Memorial Flags, US (an official website and CS)
- MENORAH
- A seven-branch candlestick that is symbolic of Judaism, and is featured on the
national arms, the Presidential Standard and some other flags of Israel (see also
Magen David and
presidential standard).
![[Presidential standard - Israel]](../images/v/vxt-d596.gif)
![[Arms of Israel]](../images/v/vxt-d596a.gif)
Presidential Standard and National Arms, Israel (fotw)
- MERCHANT ENSIGN
- See civil ensign under ensign.
- MERCHANT FLAG
- An alternative term, now largely obsolete, for the civil ensign (see civil
ensign under ensign).
![[Merchant flag]](../images/v/vxt-d587.gif)
Merchant Flag of Spain 1785 1927 (fotw)
- MERCHANT JACK
- An alternative term, now largely obsolete, for the civil jack (see civil
jack under jack).
- MERIDIAN (or MEDIAN)
- An imaginary line drawn (either vertically or horizontally) through the centre
of a flag a vertical or horizontal meridian.
- METALS
- See Appendix III.
