FlagsCan Glossary

This is the Glossary from the book,
The Flags of Canada, by Alistair B. Fraser.
This work is copyrighted. All rights reserved.

GLOSSARY

This glossary is not exhaustive either in the number of terms discussed, or in the range of meanings presented for a particular term. But, it attempts to present the principal vexillological and heraldic terms used in the text. Where usage varies, preference is given to those which generally have been appropriate for Canada since Confederation.

Still to be added are the provincial and house terms.

ABERRANT ENSIGN: The term used in this book to describe either a CANADIAN RED or BLUE ENSIGN defaced by one of the informal BADGEs such as the FIVE-, SEVEN-, or NINE-PROVINCE badges.
ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS: A composite of the armorial symbols, including SHIELD, SUPPORTERS, and CREST.
APPLIQUÉ: A mode of flag manufacturing in which one or more pieces of cloth are stitched onto the FIELD to form the design.
ARMIGEROUS FLAG: A flag which incorporates either a portion or a complete ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS as part of its design.
ARMORIAL BANNER: A flag whose FIELD is filled by the SHIELD of an ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS.
ARMORIAL: Pertaining to arms.
ARMS: the symbols and designs used in heraldry, and based upon the armour of the medieval knight. In strict terms, arms refers only to the designs, or charges, placed upon the shield.
ASTRAL CROWN: A crown made up of wings and used to represent a flying corps.
AUXILIARY JACK: This refers to the Auxiliary Vessels JACK which is worn at the jack staff of support vessels of the Canadian Forces.
BADGE: A distinctive emblem added to an existing flag. Badges are often based on either arms, seals, military badges, or logotypes. The flag badge usually leads a separate existence away from the flag. As a result, even an emblem that was placed on the flag when it was being created is a flag badge if that emblem also leads a separate existence elsewhere.
BANNER: A term having many meanings, a banner might mean: any flag; an ARMORIAL BANNER; or a flag-like object hanging from a crossbar or suspended between two poles.
BASE: The bottom part of FLAG or a SHIELD.
BATTLE ENSIGN
WAR ENSIGN.
BATTLE FLAG: Another name for a WAR FLAG.
BATTLE FLAG OF CANADA: A specific BATTLE FLAG used by the Canadian Army between 1939 and about 1943. Formally known as the flag of the Canadian Active Service Force, it had a white FIELD and bore the UNION FLAG in the CANTON, and three golden fleurs-de-lis on a blue ROUNDEL on the upper FLY, and sprig of three red maple leaves in between.
BICOLOUR: A flag whose field is composed of two colours whether divided vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
BLUE ENSIGN: The STATE ENSIGN of the United Kingdom. With a Canadian badge on the fly, it becomes the CANADIAN BLUE ENSIGN.
BRANCH FLAG: A flag used by the Canadian Forces which has been authorized to identify units within the same Personnel Branch.
BROAD PENNANT: A short PENNANT with a SWALLOWTAIL.
CADET ENSIGN: A flag named for its design rather than its usage, and flown in Canada by the Sea Cadets and Air Cadets. At present, it has the NATIONAL FLAG OF CANADA in the CANTON and a cadet badge on the fly.
CAMP FLAG: A flag flown to identify the location, headquarters or boundaries of a unit of the Canadian Forces. COMMAND, formation, BRANCH, and unit flags are all camp flags.
CANADIAN BLUE ENSIGN: A STATE ENSIGN with a blue field, the UNION FLAG in the CANTON, and a Canadian BADGE on the fly. Established in 1870, this flag was used as a JACK on Canadian naval vessels after 1910, and as a Canadian naval reserve ensign after 1922. In a nearly square format it was also used as a jack on non-military government vessels.
CANADIAN FORCES BADGE: The badge approved in August, 1967, to represent the Canadian Forces. It combines the symbols from the three former services.
CANADIAN FORCES ENSIGN: An auxiliary WAR FLAG which owes its name to its design rather than its usage. Adopted in 1968, it has a white field, the National Flag of Canadian in the CANTON, and the CANADIAN FORCES BADGE on the fly. It is only an auxiliary war flag because it is not to be flown in the absence of the National Flag itself.
CANADIAN PALE: A central square panel in a flag vertically divided into three parts. The term was coined in 1965 to describe the type of division adopted for the National Flag of Canada.
CANADIAN RED ENSIGN: A CIVIL ENSIGN of with a red field, the UNION FLAG in the CANTON, and a Canadian BADGE on the fly. Established officially in 1892, it existed unofficially since about 1870. It was the major identifying flag of Canada for nearly a century, and during this time went through three official forms. Before 1922, it also experienced three major unofficial forms, all of which are here referred to as ABERRANT ENSIGNS.
CANTON: The area in the upper HOIST corner of a flag, or a rectangular FIELD filling that area.
CAPTAIN'S PENNANT: Same as COMMISSIONING PENNANT.
CHARGE: A device placed on a SHIELD or a FLAG.
CHIEF: The top portion of a SHIELD or a FLAG.
CHURCH PENNANT: A PENNANT made by joining the flag of Saint George of England and the Dutch Tricolour. Used on Canadian Forces ships during divine services, it is adopted from the one used by the Royal Navy since the seventeenth century.
CIVIL ENSIGN: The NATIONAL FLAG flown at the stern of private or commercial vessels; also called the merchant flag.
CIVIL FLAG: The NATIONAL FLAG flown on land by private citizens.
COAT OF ARMS: The popular term for either an ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS, or a SHIELD.
COLOUR: The plural "colours" is often used, even for a single flag, because the name derives from the colours composing the FIELD of the flag. There are three meanings for colours representing increasing specialization. (1) It is a general term describing any flag which is flown to denote nationality. (2) When used in reference to ships, it refers to the collectively to the ship's ENSIGN, JACK and FLAG or PENNANT. (3) When used in reference to a military unit, it is the unique pair of consecrated flags carried by the unit. These constitute the Regimental (or Company, Battalion, etc.) Colour which represents the unit itself, and the Queen's (or King's) Colour which represents the higher allegiance.
COMMAND FLAG: A CAMP FLAG of one of the commands of the Canadian Forces. There are, at present, two command flags, that of Maritime Command, which is identical to the NAVAL JACK, and that of Air Command, which is based on the old Royal Canadian Air Force Ensign but with the National Flag in the CANTON.
COMMISSIONING PENNANT: A long narrow PENNANT worn permanently by Her Majesty's Canadian Ships in commission, unless replaced by the command flag of a flag officer or by a commodore's BROAD PENNANT. It also known as the Captain's pennant or the masthead pennant.
CREST: The part of an ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS appearing above the SHIELD, often on a helmet and torse. The word should not be used to refer to the complete ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS. The Royal Crest is an imperially crowned lion standing on a crown. The Canadian Crest is an imperially crowned lion holding a red maple leaf in its upraised right paw.
CROWN: Many different types of crowns appear or have appeared on Canadian flags, each being used to show royal authority. The Saint Edward's crown has arches that are depressed in the middle. It has been used by the female monarches, Victoria and Elizabeth II, and so is sometimes known as the Queen's crown. The crown with arches raised to form a dome, is often called the Tudor crown. It has been used during the reign of male monarches, Edward VII, George V, Edward VII, and George VI, and is sometimes called the King's crown. The term Imperial crown covers either the Tudor or Saint Edward's crown. The antique crown is much simpler and with a serrated top. It appears in the centre of the Union Jack on the top of the provincial flag of British Columbia. The naval crown is almost as simple as the antique crown, but the top is composed of sailing galleys presenting alternately a view of a billowing sail and of the stern. It appears in the badge on the fly of the present NAVAL JACK. The astral crown, composed of wings, appears on some distinguishing flags of Air Command.
DEFACE: To place a BADGE on a flag.
DISTINGUISHING FLAG: A flag of special design which is authorized to be flown by an individual to denote his rank, command, office, or authority. It is flown only during a person's period in office, and it denotes the presence of the person in an establishment, ship, vehicle, or boat.
ÉCU COMPLET: The composite SHIELD devised by Edward M. Chadwick by 1903. It formed the basis of some flag BADGEs for the next five years or so. The literal term means "balanced shield" and Chadwick used it to describe the symmetry he obtained by adding emblems of the two territories to the shield of the seven provinces.
ENSIGN: A generic term for flag, especially associated with naval flags of nationality (CIVIL ENSIGN, NAVAL RESERVE ENSIGN, etc.) The term originally applied to the distinguishing flag of nationality at the poop or stern of a ship. In addition the term is applied to a flag having the characteristic design of an ensign, even if that flag is used on land.
ESCUTCHEON: A heraldic term for a SHIELD.
FIELD: The background of a flag.
FIVE-PROVINCE BADGE: An informal badge used in Canada on its aberrant red ensigns, primarily in the early 1870s. The four provinces represented on the badge were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Manitoba.
FLAG: A general device used to communicate identity or to signal, but made of some pliable material which, being fastened only along one vertical edge, is free to move in the wind.
FLY: That part of the flag opposite the staff.
FOUR-PROVINCE BADGE: A badge approved in 1870 and composed of the joining of the SHIELDs of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. It remained in official use until replaced by the shield of the arms of Canada in 1922. It appeared on the GOVERNOR GENERAL'S FLAG, the CANADIAN BLUE ENSIGN, and the CANADIAN RED ENSIGN.
GOVERNOR GENERAL'S FLAG: The distinguishing flag of the representative of the Sovereign in Canada, and thus resident Head of State. There have been six different versions of this flag flown between 1870 and the present, with the transitions occurring in 1901, 1922, 1931, 1953, and 1981.
GREAT SEAL: The SEAL of a sovereign authority such as Canada or one of the provinces. It is impressed on documents to authenticate them and to mark the authority from which they emanate.
GROMMET: A hole, reinforced with stitching or metal, in both ends of the HEADING of some flags, enabling the flag to fastened to a HALYARD with clips. Grommets are not a common feature of Canadian flags.
HALF MAST or HALF STAFF: To fly a flag about half way up the pole as a sign of mourning.
HALYARD: The rope by which a flag is hoisted.
HEADING: The usually heavier material sown along the hoist of the flag. The heading enables the flag to be fastened. It usually contains either a rope or grommets to connect with a halyard, but may form a sleeve to slip over a pole.
HERALDRY: A system of identifying people and institutions by means of devices placed upon a SHIELD. This is often accompanied by the symbolic use of other components of the armour of a medieval knight, to make the complete ACHIEVEMENT of ARMS. Although the use of flags predates heraldry by millennia, modern flag design has been strongly influenced by heraldry.
HOIST: That part of a flag nearest the staff.
HOUSE FLAG: The flag of a commercial firm or an individual.
INESCUTCHEON: A small shield or escutcheon placed on a larger one.
INGLEFIELD CLIP: Interlocking metal clips used to attach flags to HALYARDs. Patented in 1890, the clips are used extensively on naval flags.
JACK: A small flag flown under certain circumstances at the prow of a vessel, usually a warship.
KING'S COLOUR: See COLOUR.
KING'S CROWN: See CROWN.
LENGTH: The dimension of a flag measured from the hoist to the end of the fly.
LYMPHAD: A heraldic ship which appears on the arms and flag of New Brunswick.
MANTLING: A decoration resembling drapery and placed over the helmet on an ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS. Originally, the mantling served as a sunshade for a knight's helmet.
MAPLE LEAF FLAG: An informal name for the NATIONAL FLAG OF CANADA.
MASTHEAD PENNANT: Same as COMMISSIONING PENNANT.
MERCHANT FLAG: Same as CIVIL ENSIGN.
MERCHANT JACK: A flag flown at the bow of a merchant ship. The white- bordered Union Jack, which long was a signal to call pilots, was often used in the early years as a merchant jack, yet, it was not legal for that purpose.
NATIONAL FLAG: In general, a flag representing an independent state, especially a nation-state. Although the term is chiefly applied to the flag use by private citizens, either on land or at sea, it is frequently applied to a design used in any one of six principal functions: CIVIL ENSIGN, CIVIL FLAG, STATE ENSIGN, STATE FLAG, WAR ENSIGN, WAR FLAG.
NATIONAL FLAG OF CANADA: A one by two flag of red bearing a white CANADIAN PALE upon which is the national maple leaf.
NAVAL CROWN: See CROWN.
NAVAL ENSIGN: Same as WAR ENSIGN.
NAVAL JACK: A jack used on naval vessels. From shortly after the creation in 1910 of the Royal Canadian Navy, until 1965, the Naval Jack was identical to the NAVAL ENSIGN, that is, the CANADIAN BLUE ENSIGN. From 1965 until 1968 it was the national Maple Leaf Flag. The present naval jack has a white field with the national flag in the canton and a naval badge on the fly.
NAVAL RESERVE ENSIGN: A flag of special design used, especially in Commonwealth countries, as a CIVIL ENSIGN on merchant vessels meeting certain requirements such as being commanded by retired naval officers.
NINE-PROVINCE BADGE: An informal badge used in Canada on its aberrant red ensigns, primarily between 1905 and 1922. The nine provinces represented on the badge were the present provinces excepting Newfoundland.
PALE: A vertical panel occupying the central third of a flag.
PENNANT: A triangular flag. Frequently used at sea, the pennant is usually, but not always, very much longer than it is wide. See BROAD PENNANT.
PENNON: A small flag born at the head of a lance. Among other purposes, it originally served to absorb a victim's blood and prevent it from running down the lance and make it too slippery to handle. The Northwest Mounted Police carried red over white lance swallowtail pennons on their great march west in 1874. Such pennons are still used during the RCMP musical ride.
PIECING: A method of manufacturing a flag by sowing different pieces of material edge to edge.
PILOT FLAG: A flag used by a ship to call a pilot.
PILOT JACK: A PILOT'S FLAG.
PILOT'S FLAG: The flag flown by a pilot either on his way to a ship or while he is piloting the ship.
QUARTERED: The joining together of three or more (despite the name) SHIELDs to form a composite shield. Also applied to ARMORIAL BANNERs.
QUEEN'S COLOUR: See COLOUR.
QUEEN'S CROWN: See CROWN.
QUEEN'S PERSONAL FLAG FOR CANADA: The ARMORIAL BANNER of Canada defaced with the personal BADGE of Queen Elizabeth. Adopted in 1962, it replaced the Royal Standard as the distinguishing flag of the Queen in Canada.
RED ENSIGN: The CIVIL ENSIGN of the United Kingdom. With a Canadian BADGE on the fly, it becomes the CANADIAN RED ENSIGN.
REGIMENTAL COLOUR: See COLOUR.
ROUNDEL: A circular or quasi-circular disc placed upon a flag. The roundel is sometimes used to provide an appropriate background for a flag BADGE. Sometimes, as on the ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE ENSIGN, the badge itself is in the form of a roundel.
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE ENSIGN: An flag with a sky-blue field, the UNION FLAG in the CANTON and the RCAF ROUNDEL on the FLY. From the early 1920s until 1940, the roundel was identical to that of Britain's Royal Air Force: concentric circles of red within white, within blue. In 1940, the inner red circle was replaced by a red maple leaf.
ROYAL STANDARD: The ARMORIAL BANNER of the Royal Arms. It formed the personal flag of the sovereign until supplanted in 1962 by the QUEEN'S PERSONAL FLAG FOR CANADA.
ROYAL UNION FLAG: The flag used in Canada to represent allegiance to the Sovereign and membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. It had served as one of the unofficial national flags of Canada, especially from about 1902 to the end of the Second World War. For Canadians, the informal name, UNION JACK, is unfortunate as it conjures up images of a flag of the United Kingdom, rather than a flag honouring the Canadian Sovereign.
SAINT EDWARD'S CROWN: See CROWN.
SALTIRE: A diagonal cross, such as the Saint Andrew's cross on the UNION FLAG and the ARMORIAL BANNER of Nova Scotia.
SEAL: A device used to impress a pattern upon paper or wax. Also the pattern made by this device.
SEMÉ: Spread; used to describe an unspecified number of emblems spread over the FIELD of a flag or SHIELD.
SEVEN-PROVINCE BADGE: An informal badge used in Canada on its aberrant red ensigns, primarily between 1871 and 1907. The seven provinces represented on the badge were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island.
SHIELD: The central element and sine qua non of an ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS.
SLEEVE: The heading of a flag sown so as to slip over a flagpole. This is often used for flags which are displayed indoors or on parade.
STANDARD: The ARMORIAL BANNER of an important person, such as the sovereign. The term is also applied to some colours used in the Canadian Forces.
STATE ENSIGN: The NATIONAL FLAG flown on non-military government vessels: often a basic design with special BADGEs added for individual services (post office, customs, fishery).
STATE FLAG: The NATIONAL FLAG flown on land over non-military property; also called the government flag.
SUIT OF FLAGS: The group of flags flown on a warship comprising the ENSIGN, JACK, and COMMISSIONING PENNANT.
SUPPORTERS: Figures on either side of a shield to support or protect it. The supporters on the Arms of Canada are a lion and a unicorn.
SWALLOWTAIL: A flag whose FLY is split in two by the removal of a large triangular section.
TOGGLE: A peg, usually of wood or plastic, fastened to a rope sown into the HEADING of the flag. To raise the flag, the toggle is fit into a loop in the HALYARD. In Canada, the rope and toggle are very common means of fastening a flag to the halyard.
TORSE: A representation of a bar of twisted silk in the colours of the shield and used to join the CREST to the helmet in an ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS.
TRICOLOUR: Any flag whose field is composed of three colours whether divided vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
TUDOR CROWN: See CROWN.
UNION FLAG: The abbreviated name of the ROYAL UNION FLAG.
UNION JACK: The informal name of the ROYAL UNION FLAG.
VEXILLOLOGY: (vex-il-lol-o-gy) The study of the history, symbolism, and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general. Thus, vexillological.
WAR ENSIGN: The NATIONAL FLAG flown on armed vessels; also called the NAVAL ENSIGN.
WAR FLAG: The NATIONAL FLAG flown over camps and other military establishments on land. It is often used in conjunction with the STATE FLAG .
WEAR A FLAG: A nautical term meaning to fly a flag.
WHITE ENSIGN: The war ensign of the United Kingdom and of Canada between 1910 and 1965. It is a white flag bearing Saint George's cross and the UNION FLAG in the CANTON.
WIDTH: The dimension of a flag measured from the top to the bottom.
FLEURDELISÉ: Any flag prominently featuring the fleur-de-lis, but in particular the one proposed in 1902 by Abbot Elphège Filiatrault, which is also known as the CARILLON, and the present provincial flag of Quebec.
CARILLON: ** Discuss the battle, the banner and the flag.
CARILLON-SACRÉ-COEUR
PROVINCIAL FLAG
VICE-REGAL FLAG
FLEURDELISÉ
WHITE FLAG
PAVILLON
BANNIÈRE DE FRANCE: ancient and modern
PATRIOTE FLAG
TRICOLORE
LOGOTYPE