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.
- DEPARTMENT PENNANT
- See service pennant.
Departmental/Service Pennant, Coastguard, Sweden
- DEPARTMENTAL EMBLEM
- See emblem military and governmental/departmental under
emblem.
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Emblem of British Railways 1949–1965
- DEPARTMENTAL (or DEPARTMENT) FLAG
- 1) The phrases used to describe the flag of a sub-national entity when that entity is
called a "department" – see sub-national flag.
2) These phrases can also represent the flag of administrative or clerical agencies within a
governmental structure.
General Political Warfare Department 1958–1986, Taiwan;
Flag of Vaucluse, France;
Department of Budget and Management, The Philippines
- DEPTH
- 1) See width 1).
- 2) See width 3).
Example of 1); Flag of Baška, Croatia
- DESCATE
- (adj) A term used to describe a rounded (or lanceolate) fly into which a ‘V’ shaped notch
has been cut, and a shape often seen in UK cavalry guidons – cloven descate or
rounded swallowtail (see also
fly 1),
guidon 2),
hussar cut,
lanceolate,
pennant,
swallow tail(ed)).
![[descate flag]](../images/v/vx-gb~mepmb.gif)
![[descate flag]](../images/v/vx-bluesroy.gif)
Guidon of the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch, UK;
Guidon of the Blues and Royals, UK (Graham Bartram)
Please note that in UK usage this pattern of flag/pennant is a direct development of the shape
formerly carried by formations of cavalry
– see chamfered swallow-tail.
![[descate flag]](../images/v/vx-gb^rgyc797.gif)
Guidon of the Royal Gloucestershire Yeomanry 1797, UK
- DESCENDING DIAGONAL
- 1) The term for a diagonal stripe that runs from the upper hoist to the
lower fly, and is centred on the corners of the flag – a bend, falling
diagonal, hoist-diagonal, right diagonal or right diagonal bar – but see
bend and Appendix IX (also
ascending diagonal,
east-west diagonal,
north-east diagonal,
north-south diagonal,
south-east diagonal,
south-north diagonal,
west-east diagonal,
west-north diagonal,
west-south diagonal.
- 2) The term may also be used to describe the division line on a bicolour
divided diagonally per bend as shown below – see per bend 1)
(also bicolour 1)).
Flag of Utrecht, The Netherlands;
Flag of L-Imqabba, Malta;
Flag of Rašov, Czechia
- DESECRATE
- 1) (v) To maliciously damage or mistreat a flag for political or other motives, or to use a flag in a
way that is considered disrespectful or inappropriate (see also
rules of respect
and Appendix II).
- 2) See disfigure.
- DESIGNATING (OF HEADQUARTERS) FLAG
- See headquarters flag 2).
Designating/Headquarters Flag of a Brigadier General, US Army
- DESK FLAG (or DESK TOP FLAG)
- See table flag.
Desk/Table Flag of Gracišce, Croatia (fotw and CS)
- DESTINATION FLAG
- The term describing a custom whereby the flag of the country of destination may be flown at the
fore by a merchant ship or pleasure vessel when about to sail.
- DETAILED
- A term newly introduced into heraldic blazoning that may be used to describe the black or contrasting
shade employed in detailing a charge or charges – but see
outlined
(also blazon,
heraldry, lined 2)).
Flag of Saint-George, Switzerland;
Flag of Mairengo, Switzerland;
Flag of Chironico, Switzerland
Please not that this use of the term has been introduced by the Editors as no established or
unequivocal alternative could be discovered.
- DEVICE
- 1) Originally a heraldic term for a temporary mark extra to the coat of arms
to distinguish those who entered the lists at tournaments, it now refers specifically
to the motto.
- 2) The term used to describe those marks of difference that appear on English military
colours of the 17th century (see also stand 1) and
venn).
- 3) A term sometimes inaccurately applied to any charge,
badge or emblem.
Major’s then First, Second and Third Captain’s Colours,
Westminster Liberty Regiment, London, England c1641
- DEXTER
- The heraldic term for the right hand side of a flag or shield from the point
of view of the bearer, or the left hand side from the point of view of an observer
(see also sinister).
- DEXTER EDGE
- 1) With regard to a shield see dexter above.
- 2) A term that may be used in describing the left hand facing edge of a banner or
gonfalon which is hung from a crossbar, and equivalent to the top edge of a conventionally
hoisted flag – the leading edge (see also
banner 2) and
gonfalon).
- DEXTER HOIST (HOISTED or HOISTING)
- Rarely employed terms, but those that may be used when the obverse
of a flag is depicted (or is manufactured) with its hoist to the observer's left in accordance with
Western tradition – left hoisted – see dexter,
sinister hoist
(also hoist 1), reverse).
National Flag of Moldova
Please note, it is usually felt unnecessary to specify the dexter hoist since it is a default
assumption in most cases.
