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Dictionary of Vexillology: Q (Quarantine Flag - Quinterfoil)

Last modified: 2010-01-02 by phil nelson
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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QUARANTINE FLAG
In current usage, a plain yellow flag (‘Q’ Quebec in the International Code of Signal Flags) that is flown by a vessel arriving in port stating that it is healthy and requires medical clearance or free pratique – a pratique flag but see note below (also ‘International Code of Signal Flags’).

[Quebec signal flag]
Signal Flag Quebec (CS)

Please note, it has been suggested that this flag (but flown to indicate the presence on board of infections disease) has its origins in the late medieval period, however, in British usage it was established with its present meaning (by Act of Parliament) in 1825.

QUARTER
1) A heraldic term for a rectangular panel occupying the upper dexter quarter of a shield or banner of arms but see ‘pointed’ (also also ‘canton’, ‘dexter’, ‘grand quarter’, ‘quartering’ and ‘quarterly’).
2) A heraldic term for one of the rectangles formed on a shield or banner of arms by the process of quartering (see also ‘canton 3)’, ‘grand quarter’, 'quartering’, 'quartered', ‘quarterly’ and ‘shield’).
QUARTER-FIELD CANTON
A term that may be used when the canton of a flag is of a different design or colour from its field, and which occupies exactly one-quarter of that field (see also ‘canton 2)’).

Samoa Taiwan
National Flag of Samoa (fotw); National Flag of Taiwan (fotw)

Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no established existing term could be found.

QUARTERED
In strict (English) heraldic usage the term for where a shield or banner of arms is divided into four or more quarters but which are taken from two or more different sets of arms is in, for example, the royal standard of England 1340 – 1605 or France and England quartered (see also ‘quarter’, ‘quartering’, ‘quarterly’ and ‘shield’)

[absence example]
Royal Standard of England c1399 – 1603

QUARTERING
1) A heraldic term for the division of a shield or banner of arms by drawing horizontal and vertical lines across it but see ‘pointed’ (also see also ‘Appendix IV’, ‘grand quarter’, ‘quarter’, 'quartered', ‘quarterly’ and ‘shield’).
2) (v) The act of creating divisions as described above (see also ‘quarter 2)’).

[New Zealand Royal Standard] [Grand Ducal standard - Mecklenburg, Germany]
Royal Standard, New Zealand (fotw); Grand Ducal Royal Standard Mecklenburg, Germany c1897–1918 (fotw)

Please note that whilst quarterings are generally (but not exclusively) restricted to four in flags, there is no actual limit to the number that may be employed  (see also ‘canton’).

QUARTERLY
A heraldic term for when the field of a shield, flag or banner of arms is divided horizontally and vertically into four quarters (see also ‘canton 3)’, ‘quarter’, 'quartered' and ‘quartering’).

[Quebec signal flag]
Standard of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, UK (Graham Bartram)

QUATREFOIL
1) In vexillology the term for a charge in the form of a stylized flower or plant with four petals or leaves (see also ‘cinquefoil’ and ‘trefoil’).
2) In heraldry as above, but the charge is almost invariably pierced – a caterfoil (see also ‘pierced 2)’).

quatrefoil example Kilchberg Switzerland Misery-Courtion Switzerland Giffers Switzerland
From left: Quatrefoil example; The Flags of Kilchberg, Misery-Courtion and Giffers, Switzerland (fotw)

QUEEN’S COLOUR (or COLOR)
See ‘colour 2)’ and ‘colours 2)’.

RAF Queens Colour
Queen’s Colour of the RAF, UK (fotw)

QUEUE FOURCHΙ (or FOURCHΙE)
See ‘double queued’.
QUEUED
The heraldic term used when the tail of a heraldic beast is shown in a different tincture to the body, or is placed in a position other than bending over its back – cowed - but see ‘coward’ in ‘appendix V’ and ‘double queued’.
QUINAS
The Portuguese term for the five plates or discs with which the five blue escutcheons on the national arms of Portugal are charged (see also ‘disc’ and ‘plates’).

Royal Banner of Portugal 1984 National arms of Portugal National arms of Portugal
Royal Banner of Portugal 1484 (fotw); National Arms of Portugal (fotw)

QUINCUNX
Strictly speaking the arrangement of five objects within a square (or rectangle) – one in the centre and one in each corner - the term is, however, occasionally used to describe a 3-2-3-2-3 arrangement of the stars as sometimes seen on the original pattern of the stars and stripes – but see ‘Betsy Ross flag’ (also ‘continental colours’, ‘Franklin flag’, ‘old glory’, ‘star-spangled banner’ and ‘stars and stripes’).

[Quincunx flags]
Stars and Stripes 1777 - 1795 (fotw)

[Quincunx flags]
National Flag of The Solomon Islands
(fotw)
QUINTERFOIL (or QUINTEFEUILLE)
See ‘cinquefoil’.

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