- TAB
- A small piece of leather sewn into the sleeve of a flag fastened to a screw
head protruding from the staff, and designed to keep an indoor flag, parade flag
or military colour from slipping (see also colour 2)
and sleeve 2)).
Please note that this is an alternative to a grommet
and clip or decorative nails as methods of fixing a parade flag or military colour
to its staff. It should be noted also however, that the practice of tying a parade
flag or military colour to its staff, or affixing it with metal rings, is not
entirely obsolete (see also ties).
- TABARD
- 1) In US army usage, a trumpet banner - see
bannerette.
- 2) The formal surcoat worn by a herald on ceremonial occasions, and emblazoned
with those arms appropriate to the particular office involved (see also
coat of arms 2)).
- TABLE (or TABLETOP) FLAG
- A small flag, frequently mounted on a cross bar whose staff and stand make
it suitable for display on a desk or podium a desk flag (see also
handwaver).
- TACKLINE
- A piece of halyard with Inglefield clips at both ends which is used to separate
different signal hoists on the same halyard (see also
halyard, hoist 2)
and Inglefield clips).
- TAIL(S)
- See tongue(s).
- TAKBIR
- A term for the Arabic inscription Allahu Akbar or God is Great that has
appeared on several Arab Flags and can currently be seen on those of Iran and
Iraq (see also shahada).
![[Iraq - Takbir example]](../images/v/vxt-d321.gif)
National Flag of Iraq (fotw)
- TANGLE ROD
- A metal implement attached to a flagpole (particularly one set at an angle
from a building) that clasps a flag and prevents it wrapping itself around the
pole (see also flag pole and
outrigger pole).
- TASSELS
- A decoration of twisted fabric or metal, often surrounding a wooden core and
hanging from a cord, attached to a staff or directly onto a flag especially
a colour or parade flag (see also colour 2),
cord 1) and
parade flag).
- TELEGRAPHING
- See 'semaphore 2)'.
- TEMPLATE FLAG
- See archivexillum.
- TENNΙ
- A heraldic term for the colour orange (see also
Appendix III and
rule of tincture).
- THANGKA
- A Buddhist prayer flag or wall hanging that depicts scenes from the life and
teachings of the Buddha (see also prayer flag
and religious flag).
- TIES
- Pieces of fabric or lengths of ribbon used in the largely (but not entirely)
obsolete practice of tying a flag to its staff or mast.
Please note that the increasingly (but by no means entirely) obsolete
practice of cutting the sleeve of a military colour or parade flag into separate sections (with
gaps in between) is almost certainly based on the earlier use of ties
(see also sleeve 2)).
- TINCTURE
- The heraldic term for the colours, metals and furs used on a shield or banner
of arms (see 'Appendix III').
- TOGGLE
- An oval-shaped wood or plastic cross-piece attached to a hoist-line sewn into
the heading of a flag, that fastens to a becket or eyesplice at the upper end
of the halyard for hoisting the flag on a mast or pole (see also
becket,
halyard,
heading,
hoistline plus
toggle and eyesplice).
- TONGUE(S)
- One or more horizontal projections of varying or even size either triangular, or
straight-sided with rounded or squared ends, and extending from the fly of a flag -
tails (see also
fly 1), 'gonfalon',
gonfanon,
'multi-tailed',
pallia,
palm,
schwenkel,
'square-tongued',
swallow-tail(ed) and
swallowtail and tongue).
- TORSE
- A heraldic wreath - see wreath 2).
- TOUG
- see 'Tugh 2)'.
- TRADE UNION BANNER
- See banner 3).
- TRAILING
- 1) In UK military and some other usage, a term for marching with a colour
or flag dragging on the ground, or standing in that position, and is employed
as a mark of respect to the head of state at funerals or as a token of victory in a parade of captured
enemy colours but see vailing
(also dipping 1)).
- 2) An uncommon method of saluting using a flag hoisted on a pole - the flag
is lowered until it just touches the ground for a few seconds, and then raised
smartly - practiced in some monarchies as a salute to a member of the royal family.
- TRANSARTAT
- A medieval term, now obsolete, for a banner on a crossbar.
- TRAPEZIUM (or TRAPEZOID)
- A charge similar to a triangle but with the apex squared, as in the flag of
Kuwait (see also triangle).
![[Kuwait - Trapezium example]](../images/v/vxt-d323.gif)
National Flag of Kuwait (fotw)
- TRIANGLE
- An almost invariably horizontal charge whose apex lies along the meridian,
and which may extend up to or slightly exceeding one-half the length of a flag,
but whose base usually occupies the full width of the hoist. When the base is
parallel to the lower edge of a flag it may be called an upright triangle, but
in this latter case that base generally occupies only a proportion of a flags
length (see also meridian).
![[Triangle example]](../images/v/vxt-d325.gif)
From left: National Flag of Djibouti (fotw); National Flag of St Lucia
Please note, however, that a triangle whose apex
and base touch opposite edges of the flag should be considered a pile (see also
pile).
- TRIBAND (or TRI-BAND)
- 1) A flag of three stripes or bands but using only two colours (whether disposed
vertically, horizontally or diagonally) and whether defaced or plain (see also
deface and
stripe).
- 2) An undefaced flag with three equal parallel stripes or bands using two colours a simple triband.
|
![[Triband example]](../images/v/vxt-d327.gif)
National Flag of Nigeria (fotw)
|
![[Triband example]](../images/v/vxt-d327a.gif)
Flag of Andalusia, Spain
(fotw)
|
![[Triband example]](../images/v/vxt-d327b.gif)
Flag of Parana, Brazil
(fotw)
|
Please note that the Editors have drawn a distinction
between flags with three stripes and three colours and those having three stripes
and only two colours, with the definitions for tricolour and triband having been
carefully drawn up using all available sources.
- TRIBAR
- A term sometimes applied to a flag of three stripes.
Please note however, before using this term it is
suggested that the entry on bar in Appendix VI and/or
a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted.
- TRICOLORE, LE
- See tricolour 3) below.
- TRICOLOUR (or TRICOLOR)
- 1) A flag of three stripes or bands in three different colours (whether disposed
vertically, horizontally or diagonally), and whether defaced or plain (see also
stripe).
- 2) An undefaced flag with three equal parallel stripes or bands of different
colours a simple tricolour.
- 3) The French national flag - le tricolore or that of the Netherlands - the
driekleur.
![[Tricolor example]](../images/v/vxt-d329.gif)
From left: National Flag of France (CS); National Flag of Ecuador
(fotw); National Flag of the Republic of Congo (CS)
Please note that the definition of tricolour (as
given herein) is restricted to flags of three colours disposed in three stripes,
and that flags that do not fall into this category are defined elsewhere. Please
note also, that the Editors have drawn a distinction between flags with three
stripes and three colours, and those consisting of three stripes but only two
colours, with the definitions for tricolour and triband having been carefully
drawn up using all available sources.
- TRIPARTITE
- A charge, particularly (but not exclusively) a cross, divided longitudinally
into three parts in three different colours, as in the flag of Dominica.
![[Dominica - Tripartite example]](../images/v/vxt-d331.gif)
National Flag of Dominica (fotw)
- TRIPLE-TAILED
- See swallow-tail and tongue.
- TRIPLE-TAILED DESCATE
- (adj) A term used to describe a fly that is cut into three tails with rounded
ends (see also double-tailed descate,
fly,
gonfanon,
guidon 2),
standard 4),
swallowtail,
swallowtail and tongue and
'tongue(s)).
![[Triple-tailed descate example]](../images/v/vxt-d333.gif)
- TRISKELION (TRISKELE)
- An originally mystical sign of ancient origin that consists of three symbols
emanating from a central point, and of which the three-legged symbol on the flag
of the Island of Man is almost certainly an adaptation.
![[Triskelion example]](../images/v/vxt-d335.gif)
From left; Flag of the Isle of Man, UK (Martin Grieve); Sicilian; Celtic
- TROOPING THE COLOUR (or COLOR)
- A military ceremony at which the colour is marched past assembled troops (see
also colour 2) and
colours 2)).
- TROPHY FLAG
- A flag captured in battle and displayed as a trophy.
- TRUCK
- 1) The wooden block or metal plate at the top of a flagpole (or mast) below
the finial, which includes a pulley (sheaved block) or a hole for the halyard
- often incorrectly used as a synonym for the ball or other finial at the top
of that flagpole (see also Appendix I,
finial,
flag pole,
halyard and
sheaved block).
- 2) A short pole flexibly mounted on top of a mast for the flying of a flag
or pennant at sea and ashore a pigstick (see also
'masthead, at the').
- TRUMPET BANNER
- See bannerette.
- TUFA
- A tuft of hair, feathers or other similar materials used in the same manner
as a flag (see also vexilloid 1)).
Please note that the term is taken from the ancient Roman tufa which is considered to
have been a helmet crest, and to have been adopted in Britain as the tuuf.
- TUGH
- 1) An Ottoman vexilloid, now obsolete, of Mongoloid/Turkic origin that symbolized
civil or military authority, and consisted of a number of yak or horsetails at the top
of a staff (see also
horsetail,
standard 5) and
vexilloid 2)).
- 2) A term for the standard, now obsolete, of certain regiments of French cavalry -
the Spahis originally raised from North African tribesmen a toug (see also
horsetail
and standard2)).
Please note that the schellenbaum in use by German Army
bands and some others, although also descended from the Ottoman horsetail standard,
is a musical instrument and not a vexilloid.
![[Schellenbaum]](../images/v/vxt-d283.gif)
Schellenbaum
- TYPE FLAG
- A model of pattern and colour, often fixed by law, after which actual flags
are manufactured (see also specification).
