Vexillological terminology

Last modified: 2004-09-18 by phil nelson
Keywords: vexillology | terminology | flag terms | protocol |
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• Vexillological terminology
• Flag protocol
• Division of flags by users
• Division of flags according to W.Smith
• Some comments
• Civil vs. State Flags
• Gyronny
• Breaking

See also:

• FOTW Vexillological Reference
• FOTW Topical Index

Vexillological terminology

by Zeljko Heimer, 1996-MAY-21, based on image from WBE

• Glossary of flag terms

In the United States the US flag is to be displayed on its own right, or on the highest pole. Other flags such as the UN and state flags are to be flown to the United States' flag's left or on lower poles. Do European states have similar rules? If so where does the EU flag fly relative to the flags of the composite states?
Nathan Bliss, 08 November 1996

The only reference I can find (admittedly on a cursory check) to any sort of flag precedence in the UK is from a section in Whitaker's Almanac on days for flying the Union Flag (bizarrely government buildings in the UK only have to fly the national flag on certain days of the year, not all year round), which states that on April 23rd, St George's Day, in England the Cross of St. George may be flown in addition to the Union Flag where there is more than one flagpole available, but not in a superior position. However it does not define what a superior position is! The implication that if only one flagpole is available St. George has to stay in the flag locker is clear. Certainly on days when the Union Flag is to be flown, here in Winchester the flags of the city and county at the Westgate and Castle are replaced by the Union. If only the county council had two flagpoles on its main offices, I could give a definitive answer.
Roy Stilling, 08 November 1996

Division of flags by users

Civil flags

The national flag flown on land by private citizens.

State flags

representing the actual government power for example the nation itself, districts and cities, and govenment functions like customs and border guards. The national flag flown on land over non-military [yet government-owned] property; also called government flag.

Personal flags

Colors representing an individual power or authority. The President of the United State's flag or Minister of National Defence of the DDR.

Positional Color

A positional color is similar to a rank flag, except that it represents an office a person holds, rather than his/her rank. He/she can keep the rank flag but not the positional color when he/she changes position or retires.

Organisation Flags

Sports teams and Trade Unions.

Naval Flags

Navies and Merchant Marine use all sorts of flags and signals. I lump them together for ease, also the construction of the flags is different that land flags (in most cases)