- HALF MAST (or HALF STAFF) A FLAG
- (v & adj) To fly a flag at a point below its normal position, with the upper
edge of the flag about a third of the length of the flag pole, or a flag width,
from the truck, as a sign of mourning (see also
flag pole,
full mast,
length and truck).
Please note that the flag is first raised right
up to the truck before being lowered to its half-mast position, and raised once
again to the truck before being lowered completely.
- HALYARD
- A length of thin rope or cable by means of which flags might be hoisted and
lowered on a flag pole, mast or yardarm (see also Appendix I,
flag pole.
mast
and yardarm).
- HANDSCHYNIE
- A Scottish term, now obsolete, for a miniature square banner.
- HANDSIGNE
- A 16th/17th Century variant spelling, now obsolete, of ensign see
ensign 1)
and ensign 4) (also
'ancient 2)').
- HANDWAVER (or HANDFLAG)
- A small flag, usually made of either fabric or paper, fitted to a short stick and
intended to be waved by hand (see also table flag).
- HANGING FLAG
- A long vertically orientated flag - originally of Germanic origin and now
characteristic of both German speaking and other Central European countries -
it is square-ended or swallow tailed, usually consists of the main flag charge
and livery colours and is specifically designed to be hung either from a horizontal
pole attached to a building, or from a cross bar attached to a vertical flagpole
sometimes referred to as a banner and not to be confused with the similar (but usually
shorter and more elaborately designed) gonfalon (see also
flag charge,
gonfalon and
livery colours).
The Hanging Flag of Weilrod, Germany (Jorge Majewski)
Please note that in German vexillogical terminology, a hanging
flag is that which is suspended from a horizontal bar attached to a building, whereas a
banner is the same flag but hung from a crossbar attached to a vertical staff, with the
difference thus precisely defined by usage.
- HATCHMENT
- See achievement 2).
- HEAD, FLAGSTAFF
- See finial.
- HEADING (or HEADER)
- A piece of heavy material, usually canvas or double-ply bunting, along the
hoist edge of a flag, into which a rope is sewn as the hoistline, or into which
grommets are inserted to facilitate the hoisting of a flag (see also
sleeve, hoistline
and grommet 1)).
- HEADQUARTERS FLAG
- See camp flag.
- HEADSTICK
- A short piece of wood sewn into the top of a flags heading to allow the Inglefield
clip to be attached about five cm from the top, thus permitting the flag to be
hoisted right up to the truck and enabling the top hoist corner of the flag to
remain straight and upright (see also Appendix I,
Inglefield clip and
truck).
- HEIGHT
- The vertical measurement of an emblem, shield, charge or badge when detailing the dimensions
- but see width 3) (also
dimensions and
width across)
- HELM (or HELMET)
- The metal headpiece from a suit of armour placed above the shield in a coat
of arms or set of armorial bearings (see also
Appendix IV,
armorial bearings,
coat of arms and
shield).
Please note that in heraldry the style and positioning
of a helm varies according to the rank of the bearer, and it is suggested that
a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted for full details.
- HERALDIC BANNER
- See banner 1).
- HERALDIC BEASTS
- Animals, birds and mythological creatures used on flags and the shields of
coats of arms (see also supporters).
Please note that it is beyond the scope of this
work to list all the animals traditionally used in heraldry, and for these a suitable
glossary or heraldic dictionary should be consulted, however, the basic attitudes
in which all such animals may be found (or presented) on a shield or banner of
arms are listed in Appendix IV.
- HERALDIC STANDARD
- See standard 4) and
standard 5).
![[Heraldic standard example]](../images/v/vxt-d169.gif)
Heraldic standard of the Master Gunner St James
Park UK (Graham Bartram)
- HERALDRY
- The science concerned with the designing, interpretation, recording and blazoning of
those armorial bearings and/or heraldic insignia that pertain to an individual, an
institution or to a corporate entity (see also
armorial bearings,
blazon,
coat of arms 2) and
insignia).
- HINOMARU (or HINU MARU)
- Literally sun-disk, and the current national flag of Japan.
National Flag of Japan (fotw)
- HOIST
- 1) That edge or section of a flag, which lies next to the flagpole, mast or
staff the distance line (see also
Appendix I,
fly,
obverse and
reverse).
- 2) A group of signal flags hoisted together - a hoist of flags, signal group
or signal hoist (see also
call sign hoist,
International Code of Signal Flags,
making her number and
signal flag).
- 3) (v) The act of raising a flag.
- 4) The width of a flag (see also width).
- HOIST OF FLAGS
- See hoist 2) (also
International Code of Signal Flags and
signal flag).
- HOISTLINE (or HOIST LINE)
- A piece of rope sewn into the heading of a flag to which the toggle (at the
top of the heading) and becket (or eye splice) in the other end below the flag,
or Inglefield clips (at both ends) are attached and by means of which the flag
is bent on (or attached) to the halyard (see also Appendix I,
becket, bend on,
eye splice
halyard
toggle, and
Inglefield clips).
Please note that the hoistline is described as a
distance line in US military specifications.
- HOLIDAY COLOURS (or COLORS)
- In US naval usage, a larger than usual set of colours flown by a vessel on
holidays and other special occasions (see also
ceremonial ensign,
garrison flag and
Sunday ensign).
- HOMEWARD BOUND PENNANT
- See paying off pennant.
- HONOUR (or HONOR) JACK
See jack of honour.
- HONOUR (or HONOR) POINT
- 1) On flags, a largely (but not exclusively) US term for that position on
a flag where the colour or charge with the greatest or highest symbolism is placed,
almost always the upper left (see also
canton 1),
quarter 1) and
union).
- 2) In heraldry, a point on the shield slightly above the exact centre -
the fesse-point (see
also shield).
Please note, not to be confused with the position
of honour (see position of honour).
- HONOUR (or HONOR) POSITION
- See position of honour.
- HONOURABLE ORDINARIES
- See ordinary.
- HORIZONTAL CHEVRON
- See chevron.
- HORIZONTAL MERIDIAN (or MEDIAN)
- See meridian.
- HORSETAIL
- A decoration for military flags, especially in China where it is usually red;
made of real or simulated horsehair and is almost certainly descended from a
Mongolian vexilloid (see also tugh 1)).
Please note that the standards of some former French
cavalry units (notably the Spahis originally raised in North Africa) were also
decorated by horsetails (see also tugh 2)).
- HOUSE FLAG
- 1) The distinguishing flag of a merchant marine company flown at sea by ships
owned or managed by that company, and from their headquarters on shore (see also
logo).
- 2) See corporate flag.
- 3) The personal flag of the owner of a pleasure vessel or home a private
signal (see also personal flag 2)).
- 4) See battle flag 2).
- HUSSAR CUT
- A variation of the swallow-tail in which the cut in the fly of the flag is
shaped by several curves, and was formerly typical of the flags used by German
cavalry regiments (see also guidon 2) and
swallow-tail(ed)).
![[Hussar cut example]](../images/v/vxt-d171.gif)
West Prussian Dragoon Regiment No. 4 c1820
