This website is devoted to the science of vexillology (the study of flags).
All illustrations presented on this website serve exclusively to provide information in the context of vexillology.
The authors and hosts of this site explicitly distance themselfes from any symbols of unconstitutional organizations that may be depicted here.
- RACE (or RACING) SIGNALS (or RACE COMMITTEE FLAGS)
- Those flags flown by a racing committee, and used to signal conditions, intentions or
instructions to race competitors (see also
international code of signal flags,
preparatory flag,
prize flag,
racing flag 1)).
Individual and General Recall – Flag X (X-Ray) and
First Substitute in the ICS;
Stop at pit
- RACING FLAG
- 1) A flag flown from a yacht that is taking part in a race, and struck
if it withdraws or when it crosses the finish line (see also
preparatory flag,
prize flag,
race signals,
strike).
-
2) In UK usage a flag that was flown by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh aboard his personal yacht whilst
taking part in a race (see also personal flag 1)).
3) See race signals.
Intend to Protest and Boat Incurring Penalty;
Racing Flag of HRH Prince Phillip 1921–2021, UK
- RADIAL ORIENTATION
- A term that may be used to describe the orientation of a charge, particularly (but not
exclusively) that of a star – the rotational position
(see also star 1)).
Flags of Sarawak;
National Flag of Bhutan 1969–2008;
Flag of Selangor
Notes
a) The star on the flag of Selangor has its outer point orientated towards the fly.
b) That of Sarawak has its inner point along the diagonal meridian.
c) Whilst the national flag of Bhutan has a dragon similarly orientated.
- RADIANT
- 1) The heraldic term for rays that expand or spread from a central point, but which may also be
applied to other charges and to ordinaries that are similarly
arranged – rayonné or rayonnant – but see
radiated and the note below (also
gyronny,
radiating).
2) In vexillology the term for rays spreading out from a central point is radiating – see
radiating 1).
Flag of Yazidis, Iraq;
Flag of Harare, Zimbabwe;
Flag of Ennetbürgen, Switzerland
- RADIATED
- (adj) A heraldic term used when rays are seen issuing from a charge – but see
radiant (also radiating and
sun-in-splendour).
Flag of Xaxim, Brazil;
Flag of Erin, Canada;
Flag of Šuto Orizari, Macedonia
- RADIATING
- 1) (adj) Rays spreading out from or near the central point and widening towards the
edge of a flag as in, for example, the naval ensign of Japan, or the national flag of North Macedonia
– but see beam(s) 1)
and the note below (also active,
inactive, radiant,
radiated,
sunburst, and compare with
gyronny).
- 2) See expanding stripe(s)
(also converging stripes).
- 3) (adj) A group of objects or charges placed in an arc (usually from one fixed point)
as on the national flags of China and Adygea.
![[radiating flags]](../images/v/vx-sc.gif)
![[radiating flags]](../images/v/vx-cn.gif)
![[radiating flags]](../images/v/vx-mk.gif)
National Flag of Seychelles; National Flag of China;
National Flag of North Macedonia
Please note with regard to 1) that the heraldic term for rays spreading out from a central point is
radiant.
- RAGGED CROSS (or RAGGED CROSS OF BURGUNDY)
- A traditional symbol of Burgundy and later Spain, and a cross (more accurately
saltire) composed of diagonal bars with small projections – a
burgundy cross, cross raguly or ragged cross of burgundy – see raguly.
Spanish Naval Flag 16–17th c.;
Infantry Colour 1693, Spain;
Flag of the Ferrol Squadron 1732–1760, Spain
- RAGULY
- A heraldic term meaning any number of small regular projections set an angle
on both sides (or on one side only) of a bar, cross or saltire and thought to
represent a roughly trimmed branch – see "ragged cross" above
and cross raguly 2).
Arms of Střemy, Czechia;
Flag of Gloucester, Canada;
Flag of Vrchovany, Czechia
- RAINBOW COLOURS (or COLORS)
- See dressing lines (also
dress ship).
- RAINBOW FLAG
- 1) One of several flags showing the colours of the rainbow, with prominent examples being the gay
pride flag illustrated below and those of the various peace movements illustrated under
peace flag
(also multi-stripe).
2) An unofficial nickname for the national flag of South Africa.
![[Rainbow flag]](../images/v/vx-sex-rb.gif)
![[Rainbow flag]](../images/v/vx-za.gif)
![[Rainbow flag]](../images/v/vx-ica.gif)
The Current Gay Rights Flag;
National Flag of South Africa;
Flag of the International Cooperative Movement 1925–2001
- RAISED
- 1) The act of having displayed a flag.
- 2) In heraldry see enhanced.
![[raised]](../images/v/vx-ch-fr248.gif)
Flag of Wünnewil-Flamatt, Switzerland
- RAISED DETAIL
- A term used for the increasingly obsolete practice of inserting a layer of padding
between the surface of a military colour (or of a flag) and its (usually but not invariably)
embroidered main charge in order to give a three dimensional effect – a padded emblem or
charge – see piping (also
colour 2),
embroider,
padding the sleeve).
![[raised detail]](../images/v/vx-es-tf-lc.jpg)
Raised Detail on a historical Flag of San Cristóbal de la
Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- RAMPANT
- The heraldic term used when an animal, particularly (but not exclusively) a lion, is depicted
rearing on its hind legs with forepaws and claws extended – but see
climant,
combatant,
erect,
forcené,
salient,
segreant.
![[rampant]](../images/v/vx-ch-ag045.gif)
![[rampant]](../images/v/vx-nl-zh.gif)
![[rampant]](../images/v/vx-ch-ag096.gif)
Flag of Dottikon, Switzerland;
Flag of South Holland, The Netherlands;
Flag of Windisch, Switzerland
- RANGE FLAG
- A flag used on firing ranges to signal dangerous conditions
(see also red flag 1)).
![[range flag]](../images/v/vx-us~bf4.gif)
Danger Flag (CS)
- RANK FLAG
- 1) A flag which signifies the rank of a military officer as opposed to that
of a civilian functionary – but see flag of command,
individual flag and
tugh (also
class flag,
flag officer 3),
in abeyance,
rank plate).
- 2) An alternative term for a distinguishing flag.
![[rank flags]](../images/v/vx-th^gen.gif)
![[rank flags]](../images/v/vx-th^ltgen.gif)
![[rank flags]](../images/v/vx-th^mjgen.gif)
Rank Flags of a General, Lt General and Major
General, Thailand
Please note, that although these terms are sometimes
considered interchangeable, the Editors have drawn a general distinction between
the command flags used by senior naval officers, the rank flags employed by officers
from the other armed services, the distinguishing flags of civilians and with
personal flags.
- RANK PLATE
- In UK, US and some other usage, a rectangular panel that is displayed on the vehicle
carrying a senior officer of the armed services, and used in place of or in addition to
their relevant rank flag or flag of command – an automobile, distinguishing
or star
plate
(see also car flag,
flag of command 1),
flag officer 3),
flag disc, rank flag 1)).
Field Marshall UK and Five Star General Army and Marine Corps US (CS); Commodore Royal Navy and
Brigadier Royal Marines UK, Rear Admiral (Lower Half) USN and Brig Gen USAF (CS)
Notes
a) The number of stars range between one and five
dependent upon the rank of the officer concerned.
b)
In US service officers of the army and the
Marine Corps have red plates, whilst those of the USN and USAF have dark blue. In UK service,
however, officers of the army have red, of the RN and Royal Marines dark blue, and of the
RAF light blue (and that there is a combined services plate whose field is of vertical
stripes in dark blue, red and light blue).
- RAPPORT
- An industrial term used to described the repetitive pattern found in damask, and seen in the field
of (usually high-quality) flags manufactured in that fabric.
Banner of Zagreb c1711, Croatia
- RASTAFARIAN/RASTA COLOURS (or COLORS)
- Symbolic of the Rastafarian movement, and (like the pan-african colours and identical to them) based
upon the flag of Ethiopia.
State Flag of Ethiopia 1941–1974;
Two examples of Rastafarian Flags
- RATIO
- See proportions.
- RATTLESNAKE
- The image of a venomous snake (usually accompanied by the motto “don’t tread on
me”) that is depicted either coiled or stretched – it appeared on several early
American flags and could be seen on the recent US naval jack.
Military Colour c1776; Flag of the
South Carolina Navy c1779;
Naval Jack 2002–2019, US
- RAVEN FLAG
- The flag considered by some sources to have been carried by Viking raiding
parties up until the 11th century, and to have been carried by the Normans at
the Battle of Hastings (1066) (see also bayeux tapestry).
![[Raven flag]](../images/v/vx-xn_raven.gif)
Raven Flag
- RAYONNÉ (or RAYONNANT)
- Alternative heraldic terms for radiant.
Flag of Tibet
- RAYONNY
- In largely (but not entirely) Scandinavian heraldry the term used to
describe a series of flame/tooth-like projections from the edge of a shield,
or from a division line or an ordinary
– a term, as far as can be discovered, not used in English heraldry (see also
flammully
and wolves teeth 2)).
Flag of Sør-Varanger, Norway;
Flag of Döbern-Land, Germany;
Flag of Berlevåg, Norway
- RAYS (or RAYED)
- 1) The terms sometimes (and correctly) used in place of pointed
to describe the number of such points on a sun emblem
(see also active,
active and inactive,
inactive).
2) See beam(s) 1).
Flag of the Socialist Party, Kurdistan;
Flag of Ngardmau, Palau;
Flag of Čaška, North Macedonia
