- OBVERSE
- The face, or more important side, of a flag; and in the Western tradition
always depicted with the hoist to the observers left - the dexter in heraldry.
Please note however, that in Arabic tradition the
flag is generally depicted with the hoist to the observers right the sinister
in heraldry (see also sinister;
dexter and
reverse).
- OFFICERS FLAGS
- Those flags flown by the past and present officers of a club, especially of a yacht
or boating club (but see also broad pennant 2)).
- OLD GLORY
- 1) Generally a poetic nickname for the US national flag the Stars and Stripes (see
also star spangled banner and
stars and stripes).
- 2) Specifically referring to a US national flag bearing 34 stars and a small white anchor,
reputedly belonging to a Captain William Driver.
Captain Drivers Flag (fotw)
- ONOMAST
- See name pennant.
- OR
- A heraldic term for the metal gold, generally (but not invariably) shown as
yellow in flags, or sometimes as gold leaf or metallic paint, or in an embroidered
design, as gold thread (see also Appendix III
and rule of tincture).
- ORDINARY
- A heraldic term used to describe a simple charge on a shield or banner of
arms. The honourable (or main) ordinaries are said to be the chief, cross, pale,
saltire, fess, pile, chevron, quarter and bend, and whilst these terms are briefly
described separately herein, it is suggested that a suitable glossary or dictionary
of heraldry be consulted for full or further details.
- ORGANIZATIONAL COLOUR (or COLOR)
- See colour 2) and
colours 2).
- ORGANIZATIONAL FLAG
- In US army usage, the flag of a military formation not entitled to bear colours see
parade flag (also colour 2)
and colours 2).
- ORIFLAMME
- The gonfanon of St Denis, the war flag of medieval France and reputedly adapted
from that of Charlemagne. The exact design is uncertain and has been variously
described; however, it was almost certainly of red silk, possibly triple-tailed
and charged with a number of gold disks surrounded by red roses outlined in blue
the auriflamma (see also gonfanon).
![[Oriflamme interpretation]](../images/v/vxt-d229.gif)
One interpretation of the Oriflamme (CS)
- ORIGINAL FLAG
- See type flag.
- OUTRIGGER FLAG
- In German, Central European and some other usage, the term which covers a vertically
orientated commercial flag that is fixed both along its hoist to the flagpole and along
the top edge to a horizontal arm (but see also
framed flag).
Please note that this type of flag is also a framed flag,
that the term used here is a direct translation of the German plural auslegerflaggen,
and should not be confused with a flag hung from an outrigger pole.
- OUTRIGGER POLE
- The term for a flagpole that projects from the side of a building at an upward
angle, usually equipped with a halyard but is sometimes removable and fitted with
clips to attach the flag directly (see also halyard
and tangle rod).
- OVERALL (or OVER ALL)
- 1) On flags, a term used when a charge (generally but not exclusively reaching the
edges of the flag) is placed over another design, as in for example, the bend on the
Artigas flag of Uruguay (see also charge).
- 2) In heraldry, the term can be used when a charge is placed over other charges,
or over a parti-coloured field, or when an escutcheon is placed over four or more quarters
(see also escutcheon,
inescutcheon and
quarter).
From left: The Artigas Flag, Uruguay (fotw); Shield (CS)
Please note not to be confused with dressing overall
(see dress ship).
