The Standard - A Flag Day Meditation

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Vexillology Vocabulary

The language of flags has its own precise terminology:

Vexillology: The scientific study of flags, from Latin 'vexillum' (flag, banner)

Hoist: The part of the flag nearest the pole, also the act of raising a flag

Fly: The part of the flag farthest from the pole, fluttering freely

Canton: A rectangle in the upper hoist corner (like the stars on the US flag)

Charge: Any figure or symbol placed on a flag

Field: The background color or pattern of a flag

Fimbriation: A narrow border separating two colors that would otherwise clash

Defacement: Adding a symbol or emblem to an existing flag design

Triband: A flag of three horizontal or vertical stripes

Bicolor: A flag of two colors, usually divided horizontally or vertically

Quartered: Divided into four sections, usually with different symbols

Saltire: A diagonal cross from corner to corner (X shape, like Scotland's flag)

Pall: A Y-shaped division (like South Africa's flag)

Escutcheon: A shield shape placed on a flag

Ratio: The proportion of height to width (US flag is 10:19)

Anatomy of a Flag

         ┌─────────────────────────────┐
         │ CANTON │                    │
  HOIST ←│────────│      FLY          →│
  (pole) │        │                    │
         │ (field)│                    │
         └─────────────────────────────┘
              ↕
            WIDTH
         ←─────────────────────────────→
                    LENGTH

⚑ The Standard ⚐

Vexillology Vocabulary

Anatomy of a Flag