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Dictionary of Vexillology: E (Enamels – Enhanced Bend Sinister)

Last modified: 2025-06-07 by martin karner
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ENAMELS
An alternative term for the basic colours used in heraldry as illustrated below – see tinctures.

tincture tincture tincture tincture tincture
From left: Gules, Azure, Vert, Purpure and Sable


ENARCHED
An alternative heraldic term covering arched and embowed – see ‘arched’ and ‘embowed’.

 [enarched example]
Flag of Nebikon, Switzerland


ENCENIATOR
A medieval term, now obsolete, for a mounted standard bearer (see also ‘balcanifer’).

enceniator example
Royal Standard Bearer/Enceniator, England c1450 (Wikipedia)


ENCIRCLED (or ENCOMPASSED)
1. The alternative terms that are used when a continuous line, or number of smaller charges are placed in a circular (or near circular) pattern around a larger one – encompassed.
2. Terms that are also used (albeit inaccurately) to describe a border set around or within a non-circular centre such as a shield – in heraldry see orle.

encircled example encircled example
Flag of the Gibraltar Police; Flag of Hamilton, Canada


ENCROACHING UPON (or ON)
See ‘covering 1)’ and ‘overall 2)

 Bremen Almerķa
State Flag of Bremen, Germany; Flag of Almería, Spain


ENDENTED
An alternative heraldic term for indented – see ‘indented 1)’.

endented
Flag of Munxar, Malta


ENDING TRIANGULARLY
See ‘triangular-ended’.

 Donja Dubrava
Gonfalon of Donja Dubrava, Croatia


ENDORSE (or ENDORCE)
1) An alternative heraldic term to pallet – see pallet and 2) below.
2) The heraldic term which can describe a vertical stripe that is one-half the width of a 'pallet' as referenced above.

[endorse example] [endorse example]
Arms and Flag of Vila Boa de Ousilhão, Portugal


ENDORSED
An alternative heraldic term to addorsed – see ‘addorsed’.

Aure, Norway Aure, Norway
Former Arms and Flag of Aure, Norway


ENFLAMED
An alternative heraldic term to inflamed – see ‘inflamed’.

[enflamed example] [enflamed example]
Arms and Flag of Velika Kopahnica, Croatia


ENGLISH (or ENGLAND) PENNANT
In UK usage, the terms employed to describe a white trapezoidal pennant with a Cross of St George overall, which may be flown where a flagpole would otherwise be unused – an England Pennant or Pennant of England (see also ‘Cross of St George’, ‘overall 1)’, ‘pennant’, ‘Scottish pennant’, ‘trapezoid 2)’, ‘union pennant’, ‘Welsh pennant’ and ‘wimpel 1)’).

ENGRAILED
(adj) A heraldic term for where a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, a border or the edge of an ordinary, is cut into a series of indented curves or half circles strung together – that is with the half-circles facing inward and points outward – ingrailed – see invected (also armorial bearings, banner of arms, coat of arms, ordinary shield, and scalloped).

Engrailed Engrailed Engrailed
Flag of Wennigsen at Deister, Germany; Flag of Sögel, Germany; Flag of Hoogland, The Netherlands


ENGRAILED CROSS
See ‘engrailed’.

cross engrailed cross engrailed
Arms and Flag of Espinho, Portugal


ENGRAILED FLY
(adj) A term for a form of flag, now largely but not entirely obsolete, whose fly either came to a point or was extended by a central projection, but in which both sides form a concave arc (see also ‘engrailed’, ‘ogival’, ‘stepped fly’ and ‘schwenkel’).

Tunis 14th century Sibenik, Croatia 14th century Aragon, Spain 13th century
14th century Flag of Tunis, 14th century Flag of Šibenik, Croatia; 13th century Flag of Aragon

Notes
a) This is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors since no established alternative could be found.
b) At the time of writing it is unclear as to whether the flag having a straight-sided but angled fly should be considered as "engrailed" or "stepped" – see ‘stepped fly’.


ENHANCED
1) A heraldic term for when the main ordinary on a shield, banner of arms or flag is borne higher that its usual position – raised (see also abased, banner of arms and ordinary).
2) A term that may also be used when a shield is placed in a higher position than is normal (see also shield 1)).

enhanced examples enhanced examples enhanced examples
Flag of Gibraltar; Flag of Craywick, France; Flag of Světlá nad Sázavou, Czechia

Please note however, that enhanced has a slightly different meaning when applied to the vexillological terms enhanced bend and enhanced bend sinister given below.


ENHANCED BEND
See ‘north-south diagonal’ (also ‘Appendix IX’).

[enhanced bend example]


ENHANCED BEND SINISTER
See ‘south-north diagonal’ (also ‘Appendix IX’).

[enhanced bend sinister example]


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