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Dictionary of Vexillology: F (Flag – Flag Mast)

Last modified: 2026-01-02 by martin karner
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FLAG
1) Generically, any piece of cloth (occasionally paper, plastic or metal) usually with provision for attaching by one edge to a staff or halyard, generally (but not exclusively) intended to fly freely in the wind, and which by displaying the colours and/or the charges upon it, to act as a mark of identity, rallying point or signal.
2) Specifically, the term is employed in opposition (by use, custom, tradition or shape) to the more specific descriptions – such as (for example) colour, banner, ensign jack or pennant as defined herein – see the entries under ensign, as well as colour, jack and pennant 2) with its following notes.
3) In British RN and some other usage, the term used (often in signalling) to describe the authority/office of an admiral in command – see flag officer 2) (also flag of command 1)).
4) See flag down, to.

flag Norway jack flag
National flag of Samoa; Naval Jack of Norway; Flag of Metković, Croatia

FLAG ACT
See flag law.
FLAG ADJUTANT
In US Navy and some other usage, the title carried by the aide to a flag officer – the loop –, but see flag lieutenant and the note below (also aiguillette and flag officer 3)).

Please note that this appointment received its nickname – “the loop” – from the aiguillette (in gold and blue cord with tassels) worn from the left shoulder by such officers.


(reddit.com)

FLAG ARMS
A term used when the arms that appear on a flag are officially different from the relevant national or provincial coat of arms or emblem – see flag emblem (see also armorial bearings, greater arms, lesser arms, middle arms and state arms under arms plus coat of arms).

flag arms of Peru national arms of Peru national arms of Kenya national flag of Kenya
The State Flag and National Emblem of Peru; National Arms and National Flag of Kenya

FLAG BADGE
See lapel flag 1).

flag badge
(hamiltoninsignia.com)

FLAG BAG
In US Naval usage, a colloquial term for the bridge locker in which signal flags and ensigns etc are stored (see also flags 1) and signal flag).
FLAG BEARER
1) One who carries any sub-national or national flag when it is mounted on a hand-held staff (see also flag carrier, national flag, staff and sub-national flag).
2) See colour bearer and standard bearer 1).
FLAG BELT
A decorative band worn around the neck (often in national colours) or a leather strap worn around bot the waist and neck, with a supporting socket into which the bottom end (or foot) of the staff is fitted, and which assists a marching standard/colour bearer to support its weight – a colour belt or sling (see also colour bearer, pike, staff 2) and standard bearer 1)).

[colour belt example]
Flag Belt According to Spanish Regulations (Reglamento de Banderas y Estandartes, Guiones, Insignias y Distintivos > Regla no. 12)

FLAG BOOK (or FLAGBOOK)
A collection of flag images and/or of flag information illustrated with such images, that is published in book form or as a loose-leaf folder (see also flag chart and flag plate).

[flag book example] [flag book example]
Pages from the Album des Pavillons (shom.fr)

FLAG BURNING
The wanton destruction of a flag by public burning, usually (but not exclusively) for political motives – but see also ‘rules of preservation and disposal’ in Appendix II.

[flag burning example]
(visir.is)

FLAG CANTON
1) See canton 2)
2) See canton flag

provincial arms of Bremen Germany
National flag of Tuvalu

FLAG CAPTAIN
In British RN, USN and some other naval usage, the Captain in command of any vessel carrying a flag officer – see flagship and the notes below (also flag officer 1), flag officer 2) and flag lieutenant).

Notes
a) An admiral does not command the ship that flies his flag, but has an officer under him – the flag captain as defined above – who does (see also flag of command 1)).
b) In British RN usage before 1958, this term would also have included those officers in command of any vessel carrying a first class commodore, however, that rank is currently in abeyance and a commodore (formerly a commodore of the second class) now commands the ship himself – see in abeyance.

FLAG CARRIER
1) An airline – and in the past also a shipping line – that is considered to represent the nation concerned and whose aircraft will usually carry a representation of the national flag (see also flag bearer 1) and national flag).
2) An airline or shipping line whose aircraft or ships are registered in a given country and entitled to fly or display its flag.

flag carrier
A Jumbo Jet of British Airways (Wikimedia)

FLAG CASE
1) See case 1).
2) In US usage a triangular case designed to hold a folded flag secure – a commemorative flag case (see also flag folding and pall flag).
FLAG CHARGE
A charge placed specifically on the field of a flag (see also charge).
FLAG CHART
A collection of flag images produced on a single sheet, that is displayed fully opened out and often rolled up or folded for storage (see also flag book and flag plate).

[flag book example]
Flags of Europe (pinterest.com)

FLAG CODE
A set of protocols to govern the correct and respectful usage of the national flag. In some countries these are enforceable by law, but in others they remain recommendations only – see Appendix II (also flag etiquette, flag law, rules of respect and position of honour).
FLAG DAY (or FLAG WEEK)
1) A holiday, commemorative day or other period of time for the affirmation of patriotic values expressed in and through the national flag (see also flag flying days and national flag).
2) In UK usage, the term that describes a charity event during which donations are acknowledged by the receipt of a paper flag (see also flag flying days and lapel flag 2)).
FLAG DESIGN COMPETITION
A competition (either official or unofficial) that invites designs from which a new or replacement flag may be selected – usually by a committee appointed for that purpose (see also ausflag and flag proposal).

1949 Malaysian flag proposal 1949 Malaysian flag proposal 1949 Malaysian flag proposal
Three Rejected Entries in the Design Competition for a National Flag of Malaysia, 1949

FLAG DISC (or DISK)
In the British Royal Navy and in some others, an (appropriate) metal disc displayed on boats carrying an officer of flag rank to indicate whether that officer expects full ceremonial passing honours, or whether they are proceeding informally and only require normal side party salutes (see also boat flag 3), flag officer and royal plate).

flag disc   flag disc
Alert and Salute only; Courtesy Salute Only, RN (Graham Bartram)

FLAG DISCRIMINATION
The often legal requirement for shippers to choose the national flag carrier, airline or shipping company over others (particularly but not exclusively foreign lines) when shipping goods or transporting people (see also flag carrier).
FLAG DOWN, TO
(v) To signal a vehicle to stop or slow down as a warning of danger or obstruction on a road or railway, by waving a (usually) red flag, slowly up and down, or by using only the hand by day or torches by night in similar fashion (see also flag).
FLAG EMBLEM
A term used when the emblem that appears on a flag is officially different from the relevant national or provincial emblem (although it may contain an element or elements from that emblem) – see emblem, state or national (also emblem 2), fin flash, and flag arms).

flag emblem   flag emblem   flag emblem
National Flag with flag Emblem, Zimbabwe; Flag emblem, Uganda; National Flag with flag Emblem, Mozambique

FLAG ETIQUETTE
The international customs applicable to the display of flags when flying together – see Appendix II and rules of etiquette (also flag code, flag law and position of honour).
FLAG EXCHANGE
1) The term – and a translation of the German Flaggenwechsel – which may be used to describe the point during the fitting out of a vessel when the builder’s house flag is replaced with that of its new owners (see also launching flags).
2) See souvenir flags 1).
FLAG FAMILY
A group of flags that share a common heritage or feature, usually shown in either the colours used or the design employed, or in both – see pan-African Colours, pan-Arab Colours and pan-Slavic Colours (also core flag, differenced, Dutch colours 1)) and Garvey colours 1)).

Ecuador Venezuela Colombia
National Flag of Ecuador; Civil Flag/Ensign of Venezuela; National Flag of Colombia
FLAG FLYING DAYS
An official list of occasions upon which flags must be flown, generally (but not exclusively) from public buildings (see also a href="#flagday">flag day 1)).

Please note that the list of flag flying days usually refers only to the relevant national flag, but that there are several exceptions.

FLAG FOLDING
Specifically in US and some other – particularly (but not exclusively) military and naval – usage, the precisely prescribed and ceremonial folding of the national flag or ensign for presentation and/or storage (see also flag case 2) and pall flag).

[folding the US flag]
(allplanttraining.co.uk)

FLAG FOR SLANTED (DIAGONAL or OBLIQUE) DISPLAY
In South American usage and in some others, the phrases that may be used when the design of a flag, or of any element thereon, is orientated so that it appears horizontal when displayed from a diagonally mounted or held staff, (usually but not invariably) for indoor use or when carried over the shoulder on parade – a tilted flag, a diagonal, oblique or slanted display design or flag but see rotated (also indoor flag and parade flag 1)).

[Pont-à-Celles] [Pont-à-Celles]
Flag of the Chairman of the Joint Armed Forces Staff, Peru; Flag of the Army, Bolivia – Both For Slanted Display (fotw & CS)

FLAG HEIGHT
See width 1).

[flag height]

FLAG HOIST
See signal hoist.

[flag hoist] [flag hoist] [flag hoist]
GN2 (Golf–November–2) in The International Code of Signal Flags or “I will take off persons”.

FLAG LAW (or FLAG LEGISLATION)
The legal means, by which any constituted authority establishes, regulates, defines or amends a flag – flag legislation or a flag act (see also Appendix II, executive order, flag code, flag etiquette, official flag 1), precedence, presidential decree, position of honour, royal decree, presidential decree, royal order in council, specification sheet, type flag and warrant).
FLAG LIEUTENANT
In British RN and some other usage, the title carried by the aide to a flag officer – but see flag adjutant (also flag captain and flag officer 2)).

[flag lieutenant]
Flag Lieutenant, Royal New Zealand Navy (reddit.com)

Please note that the title derives from that officer’s former principal responsibilities (now superseded by modern communications methods) for the handling of an admiral’s flag signal traffic – see signal flag (also yeoman of signals).

FLAG LOCKER
In British RN and some other usage, the area in which signal flags, flags of command and ensigns etc., are stored aboard ship (see also bunting tosser, flags 1), signal flag and yeoman of signals.
FLAG MAST (or FLAGMAST)
See flag pole (also mast 1), pole mast, staff 1), staff 2) and stayed mast).

Please note that the terms flagstaff, flag mast and flag pole may be considered as interchangeable, but that ‘mast‘ and ‘staff’ when used alone have specific meanings.

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