- FLAG OF CEREMONY
- See indoor flag.
Please note that this term is a direct translation of the
Spanish "Bandera de Ceremonia" and should not be confused with a ceremonial
ensign/or flag as listed separately herein.
- FLAG OF COMMAND
- 1) In naval usage, the rank flag of an officer entitled to fly a flag or broad
pennant when that officer is appointed to command naval forces (see also
broad pennant,
command pennant,
flag disc,
flag officer,
flagship,
rank plate and
wear).
- 2) An alternative term for a rank flag (see also
balls of difference,
distinguishing flag 3),
individual flag,
personal flag 4), and
rank flag).
![[flags of command]](../images/v/vxt-d147.gif)
From left: Fleet Admiral, USN (fotw); Admiral. USN (fotw); Vice
Admiral, USN (fotw); Rear Admiral, USN (fotw); Rear Admiral (lower half) USN (fotw)
Please note, that although these terms are sometimes
considered interchangeable, the Editors have drawn a general distinction between
the command flags used by senior naval officers, the rank flags employed by officers
from the other armed services, the distinguishing flags of civilians and with
personal flags. Please note also, that a further distinction has been drawn between
the flag of command which replaces the masthead pennant, and command pennants
which do not.
- FLAG OF CONVENIENCE
- The flag flown by a vessel registered in one country, but whose owners are
not nationals of that country, and usually for reasons of economy or the evasion
of more stringent regulations elsewhere.
- FLAG OF DEFIANCE
- A plain red flag widely used in European waters prior to the invention of
flag signal codes to signify an intention to give battle colours of defiance or
the bloody flag (see also baucans).
Please note that although in widespread use prior
to this date, the flag of defiance did not appear in English naval Instructions
until 1647 (and was dropped in 1799).
- FLAG OF DISTRESS
- 1) Flag V (Victor) in the International Code of Signal Flags flown at sea
as a request for assistance.
- 2) Flags N (November) and C (Charlie) hoisted as a group at sea to indicate
that a vessel is in distress.
- 3) In US usage, an orange flag bearing a black square and disk in the centre
prescribed by the US Coast Guard for use by small boats and pleasure craft in
the territorial and inland waters of the USA.
![[flags of distress]](../images/v/vxt-d149.gif)
From left: 1) Signal Flag Victor;
2) - 3) NovemberCharlie;
4) US Signal
Please note that, whilst some may still acknowledge
an upside-down ensign as a signal of distress, it is no longer recognized under
international rules; and that the waft, also previously used, is now entirely
obsolete (see also
International Code of Signal Flags,
signal flag and
waft).
Also please note that according to the US Coast
Guard regulations the orange flag should be either square with vertically arranged
symbols as illustrated above, or rectangular with the square and disc horizontal, and that
a very similar signal is recommended in the ICS for identification from the air (see also
International Code of Signals).
- FLAG OF HONOUR (or HONOR)
- In now obsolete Austro-Hungarian maritime usage, one of two flags presented to merchant
captains for meritorious service in peace (white field) or war (red field), and flown from the
mainmast between 1850 and 1918 an honour flag but see note below (also main).
![[Austro-Hungary flag of honor]](../images/v/vxt-d504.gif)
Austro-Hungary 1850 1918 (Željko Heimer)
Please note that the term honour flag has been used for two other designs issued
by different authorities under differing circumstances, and it is therefore suggested that this form of the
term should be applied only to those flags see
honour flag 1) and
honour flag 2).
- FLAG OF PROTECTION
- 1) See 'safe conduct flag 1)'.
- 2) In largely (but not exclusively) UK usage now obsolete, a term
sometimes employed to describe the flag of a powerful state that has extended
its military and/or naval protection over another.
- FLAG OF ST GEORGE
- See St Georges Cross 2).
- FLAG OF THE MARINE CORPS
- See branch of service flag
(also armed services flag and
battle colour).
- FLAG OF THE STATE OF
- See state flag 2).
- FLAG OF TOLERANCE
- One of six different flags introduced by UNESCO in 1995 and designed to be symbolic
of the spirit of tolerance.
- FLAG OF TRUCE
- A plain white flag displayed as a sign of surrender, or as a wish for the
temporary cessation of hostilities a parley flag (see also
cartel flag).
- FLAG OFFICER
- 1) Generally a naval officer entitled to fly a flag of command, which replaces the masthead
pennant when that officer is aboard ship (see also
command pennant,
flag of command,
flagship and
masthead pennant 1)).
- 2) Specifically in the British Royal Navy and some others, as above but an
officer over the rank of commodore who is entitled to fly a flag of command
see note below (also
balls of difference,
broad pennant and
flag of command).
- 3) In US usage as 1), but the term may also include general officers of the
army, air force and marine corps (see also rank flag 1)).
Please note with regard to 2) that in Royal Navy usage all officers of flag
rank were formerly considered to be flag officers, but that the term is now restricted to those
of that rank who are entitled to fly a flag of command aboard ship.
- FLAG PATRON
- In largely European usage, a term for that person who provided funding for the production
of a ceremonial flag, or is otherwise being honoured by the organization whose flag it is
but see consecration with its following note (also
ceremonial flag 1)).
- FLAG PATCH
- A small representation of a flag sewn or otherwise fixed onto an item of clothing,
usually but not invariably on the upper sleeve, and often used by military personnel
a shoulder patch.
- FLAG PIN
- See lapel flag 1).
- FLAG PLATE
- 1) A single illustration or series of illustrations (almost invariably coloured)
on a single page (or pages) which is printed separately (for reasons of production
cost) and inserted into an otherwise completed book of textual information (see also
flag book and flag chart).
- 2) A term that may be used to describe those rigid plates that may replace the equivalent
signal flags in some European regulations for inland navigation (see also
signal flags).
- 3) See rank plate.
- 4) A term sometimes incorrectly used to describe a piece of tableware, often (but
not invariably) produced by shipping companies, that bears the illustration of a flag.
- FLAG PLEDGE
- See flag salute.
- FLAG POLE (or FLAGPOLE)
- The post of wood, metal or a synthetic material upon which a flag is hoisted
by means of a halyard, - a flag mast or flag staff, but see
outrigger pole (also
cone tapered,
finial,
halyard,
Venetian entasis taper
and truck).
Please note however, that the terms flag staff,
flag mast and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and
staff when used alone have specific meanings (see also
mast and staff 2)).
- FLAG PROPOSAL
- The term which covers any flag suggested as an alternative to a design currently used,
or one of those designs from which the choice of a new flag is to be made, or for a design
that has been so proposed in the past but never accepted, (see also
ausflag and
flag design competition).
Rejected Design for the National Flag of The Bahamas, 1973 (fotw)
- FLAG PROTOCOL
- See flag etiquette (also
Appendix II).
- FLAG RANK
- See flag officer and its following note
- FLAG SAIL
- A term for the occasional practice of creating (or illustrating) a sail in the form of an appropriate national
(or possibly provincial) flag or ensign (see also armorial sail).
The National Flag of Canada as a square sail (Željko Heimer)
Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no established
alternative could be found.
- FLAG SALUTE
- 1) An oath of allegiance through a ceremony involving the national flag
flag pledge. Flag salutes are required of military personnel in most countries,
but when done by civilians, it is usually (but not invariably) out of custom.
- 2) A term also sometimes used to indicate a salute made with a flag as in
for example - a merchant vessel dipping its flag to a warship (see also
dipping).
- 3) See salute to the flag.
- FLAG SLING
- See 'flag belt'.
- FLAG STAFF (or FLAGSTAFF)
- See flagpole (also
'mast' and
staff).
Please note that the terms flagstaff, flag mast
and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and staff when
used alone have specific meanings (see also 'mast' and
staff 2)).
- FLAG STATE
- The country in which a vessel or aircraft is registered, documented or licensed,
and whose flag it is entitled to display.
- FLAG-ON-A-FLAG (FLAG-ON-FLAG or FOF)
- A term used when one or more of the main charges on a flag (usually but not invariably
part of a coat of arms or emblem) include the depiction of another flag or flags forming
an integral part of the design (see also coat of arms 1) and
emblem).
From left: National Flag and Arms of Ecuador (fotw); National
Flag and Arms of Haiti (fotw); National Flag of South Africa 1928 1994 (fotw)
Please note that this category does not include those flags
or ensigns whose canton consists of another flag (such as the British or Indian red
ensigns) and for which the term canton flags should be used (see
canton flag).
- FLAG-TOSSING
- A sport and folk custom, particularly of Italy and Switzerland, in which flags
are twirled and tossed in the air a survival and extension of the standard 17th
Century military practice of postures (see also
palio and
postures).
Please note that an unrelated local ceremony of
flourishing flags, called casting the colours, occurs annually in Selkirk, Scotland.
- FLAG-WAVING
- Use of the national flag, literally or figuratively to justify actions or
principles, or to excite patriotic fervour.
- FLAGHEIGHT
- See width.
- FLAGLET
- The term sometimes used to describe a miniature flag - but see
car flag,
handwaver and
table flag.
Please note that the Editors consider this term too generic to be useful, and that the more precise descriptions
given above are to be preferred in description.
- FLAGOID
- A recently coined, term which is used to describe the illustration of a flag, or of a
flag-like object, which is not intended to represent any flag in actual use, but which has
the backing of some credible source and/or which employs a widely recognized emblem as part
of its design but see fictional flag and
fictitious flag. For example the official coat of arms of the
Mexican province of Hidalgo includes the national flag of Mexico and a flagoid (a non-existent
blue rectangular version of the Guadeloupe processional banner known to have been in use c1810).
![[flagoid example]](../images/v/vxt-d152.gif)
The Arms of Hidalgo (fotw)
- FLAGS
- 1) In US naval usage, a traditional nickname for signalmen whose duties include the display
and care of signal flags and ensigns but see
bunting tosser (also
flag bag,
yeoman of signals).
- 2) In British Royal Navy and some other usage, a traditional nickname for the flag lieutenant see
flag lieutenant.
- FLAGS AND FUNNELS
- The phrase used to describe a (usually illustrated) list of distinguishing flags or pennants
as detailed in house flag 1), and the sometimes matching
funnel liveries shown by ships of that company.
House Flag and Funnels: Luigi Pittaluga 1940, Italy (CS); Giovanni Gavarone 1940, Italy (CS);
Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line 1940, UK (fotw and CS)
- FLAGSHIP
- A naval vessel flying the flag of a flag officer or the broad pennant of a
commodore (see also broad pennant,
flag of command and flag officer).
Please note that in British RN and some other usage,
a naval vessel in commission which does not carry an officer described above is
a private ship (see also
command pennant,
masthead pennant 1) and
private ship).
