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Dictionary of Vexillology: U (Uncase - Urinant)

Last modified: 2010-01-02 by phil nelson
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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UNCASE
(v) To remove a regimental, unit, service or national colour, usually with the appropriate ceremony, from its protective case (see also ‘case’).

UNDEFACED
(adj) The term used to describe a flag which may (and sometimes does) carry authorized additions, but in this case is seen without any such additions (see also ‘archivexillum’, ‘blue ensign’, ‘deface’ and ‘red ensign’).

undefaced example
From left: Undefaced - Reserve Ensign, India; Defaced - Government Ensign, India (fotw)


UNDY (or UNDE or UNDULATING)
See ‘wavy’ (also ‘nebuly’).

UNEQUAL (or UNEVEN) TRIBAND
A term that may be used when a triband is composed of stripes whose widths are not equal – but see ‘triband 1)’ (also ‘canadian pale’, ‘spanish-style triband’ and ‘unequal tricolor’ below).

national flag of Spain Civil flag - Dniestr Republic
From left: National Flag of Spain (fotw); Civil Flag of The Dniestr Republic (fotw)


UNEQUAL (or UNEVEN) TRICOLOUR
A term that may be used when a tricolour is composed of stripes whose widths are not equal – but see ‘tricolour 1)’ (also ‘unequal triband’ above).

Colombia Albrechticky, Czech Republic Cechin, Czech Republic
From left: National Flag of Colombia (fotw); flag of Albrechticky, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of Cechin, Czech Republic (fotw)


UNFURL
1) (v) Generically, to hoist, break out or show a flag (or flags) that have not been displayed until that moment (see also ‘break a flag’ and ‘hoist 3)’).
2) (v) To unwind a colour or parade flag from its staff after it has been uncased (see also ‘colour 2)’, ‘furl’, ‘parade flag’ and ‘uncase’).

UNION, THE
1) The canton of the US national flag - the Stars and Stripes - i.e. 13 - 50 white stars on a blue field (see also ’stars and stripes’, ‘union jack 3)’ and ‘union mark’).
2) See ‘canton 2)’.

UNION FLAG
1) In UK usage, a precise term for the British national flag when flown on land – but see ‘union jack 1)’ and ‘union jack 2)’ below.
2) The term that may be used when a flag symbolizes the union of two or more previously independent countries – for example those of the United Arab Emirates or of Malaysia (see also ‘union mark’).

undefaced example
National Flag of Malaysia (fotw); National Flag of the United Arab Emirates (fotw)


UNION JACK
1) A general and officially recognized term for the British national flag whether flown on land or sea – but see ‘union flag 1)’ and ‘union jack 2)’ (also (also ‘British flag’, ‘great union‘, ‘interlaced’, ‘James union’, ‘national flag’ and ‘union mark’).
2) In UK usage, a precise term for the British national flag when flown as a jack from the bows of a British warship, from a yardarm to signal that a court martial is being held, or at the main masthead as the command flag of an Admiral of the Fleet - see ‘union flag 1)’ (see also ‘flag of command’, ‘His Majesty’s Jack’. ‘jack’ and ‘naval jack’ under ‘jack’, ‘masthead’ and ‘yardarm’).
3) In US usage, the official term for the traditional US national jack, which consists of the union from the US national flag (see also ‘union’).

[Jacks - United Kingdom]
National Flag of the United Kingdon (fotw)

[Jacks - US]
Traditional National Jack, US (fotw)

Please note that the British national flag is legally (when undefaced) restricted to naval vessels whilst flown afloat (see also 'civil jack', 'government jack' and 'naval jack' under 'jack', 'pilot jack' and 'undefaced'), however, US merchant vessels are not forbidden by regulation to wear the union jack as described in 3) above, but at the time of writing it has been temporarily replaced in naval usage by the design shown below.

[current Union Jack - US]
Naval Jack in current use, US (Graham Bartram)


UNION MARK
A symbol expressing the unification of two or more territories - such as the British Union Jack or the former Norwegian-Swedish Union Mark - either employed alone or as a charge on a flag (see also ‘charge’, ‘conjoined’, ‘union’, ‘union flag’ and ‘union jack’ above).

[Norway-Sweden Union Mark]
Norway-Sweden Union Mark 1844 – 1905 (fotw)


UNION PENDANT (or PENNANT)
See ‘budgee pendant’.

UNION STANDARD
In British military usage, a term for one of three such standards each carried by the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals - the Household cavalry - and the equivalent of a normal cavalry guidon or infantry colour (see also 'colour 2)', 'colours 2)' and ‘guidon 2)’).

UNIQUE FLAG
A flag intended in design and usage, to be the only one of its type.

Please note that in East and Central European usage the ceremonial flag of a community is often created as a unique flag – see ‘ceremonial flag 2)’.


UNIT(S) COLOUR/FLAG (or COLOR/FLAG)
See ‘colour 2)’ and ‘colours 2)’ ’ (also ‘camp flag’).

UNIT DESIGNATION
The inscription on a colour that indicates the military group to which it belongs (see also ‘colour 2)’.

UNREP (UNDERWAY REPLENISHMENT) FLAG
See ‘battle flag 2)’.

UPPER FLY (or UPPER FLY CANTON)
In vexillology a term for that quarter of a flag which occupies the upper fly - the second or upper fly canton (see also ‘canton 3)’ and ‘fly 1)’).

UPPER HOIST (or UPPER HOIST CANTON)
In vexillology a term for that quarter of a flag which occupies the upper hoist, the canton - the first or upper hoist canton (see also ‘canton 1)’, ‘canton 3)’ and ‘hoist 1)’).
UPRIGHT
1) On flags a term which may be used when a charge or charges that are usually placed horizontally are shown with a vertical orientation (see also ‘pall’ and ‘pile’).
2) In heraldry a term that may be applied (in place of rampant or its equivalent) to the orientation of charges representing crustaceans or reptiles.

UPRIGHT CENTRED CROSS
See ‘cross 1)’.

UPRIGHT PALL
See ‘pall’.

UPRIGHT PILE
See ‘pile’.

UPRIGHT TRIANGLE
See ‘triangle’.

URINANT
See ‘appendix V’.

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