- BANNER ROLL
- An 18th Century corruption, now obsolete, of the equally obsolete term bannerole
(see 'bannerole').
Please note, it is suggested by one source that this term could also apply to a roll or scroll
depicting banners.
- BANNER TOP
- See ‘finial’ (also supplementary note)
Please note that the Editors consider this term to be both contradictory and confusing, and suggest therefore, considerable caution before use.
- BANNERET
- 1) A term sometimes used to describe a miniature banner; this is often (but
by no means invariably) straight-sided and triangular ended or swallow-tailed, is designed to be displayed
vertically and usually shows emblems of either national and local significance (see
also ‘bannerette’,
‘emblem, general’, ‘table flag’ and
‘triangular ended’).
- 2) A medieval term, now obsolete, for a knight entitled to lead men into
battle – a knight banneret – whose armigerous lance pennon was square-ended, or for the group of knights so lead –
a banneretus (see also
‘armigerous’,
‘banderium’,
‘lance pennon 1)’
and ‘pennoncier’).
Table Flag/Banneret of Čađavica, Croatia (fotw);
Lance Pennon of Sir Robert Knolles. Knight Banneret c1360, England
- BANNERETTE (or BANERETTE)
- 1) A small ceremonial banner decorating a set of bagpipes, a drum or a trumpet
– a drum banner, pipe banner or a trumpet banner or tabard (see also
‘war banner’).
- 2) See ‘banner 3’.
![[bannerette]](../images/v/vxt-d1438.gif)
7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles,
UK (fotw)
- BANNERETUS
- A medieval term, now obsolete, for a banneret (see
‘banneret 2)’).
- BANNERHAUPT
- See ‘bannerhead’.
Banner of Bad Westernkotten, Germany
(fotw)
- BANNERHEAD
- The term - and a direct translation of the German "bannerhaupt" -
sometimes used
in German language vexillology - to describe the plain area of field that may appear at the head of a hanging flag or a banner
and almost invariably bearing a civic or regional coat of arms (see also
‘banner 2)’,
‘hanging flag’ and
‘hoisted flag’).
Hanging Flag of Frankfurt am Main, Germany (fotw);
Hanging Flag of Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany (fotw);
Banner of Ludwigshafen, Germany (fotw)
- BANNERMAN
- 1) In largely Scottish usage a term, now obsolete, for one who bears a standard.
- 2) An originally 17th century term, now obsolete, for a Chinese soldier
belonging to one of the eight “banners” (or divisions) of the Manchu army
(see also ‘banner 7)’).
- BANNEROLE (or BANNEROL)
- The term, now obsolete, for a small flag (usually three feet - 91 cm - square) that displayed a
single quartering from a deceased person’s coat of arms for use at that person’s
funeral – a banner roll (see also ‘achievement of arms 2)‘,
‘badge banner’,
‘banner of arms’, ‘canton 3)’,
‘coat of arms’,
‘great banner’,
‘grumphion’ and
‘quartering’).

Bannerole (or single quartering) from the Arms of the 4th Duke of Buccleuch d1687
Please note - not be confused with banderole (see
‘banderole’).
- BAR
- 1) The heraldic term for a horizontal stripe that is rarely borne singly,
and which in strict heraldic practice should occupy about one-fifth the width
of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof – but see note b)
below
and compare with ‘fess’ (also
‘barrulet’, ‘barry’,
‘filet’ and
‘quartering 1)’).
2) In vexillology see ‘stripe(s)’.
3) In UK military usage and in some others, the metal clasp which is added to a medal ribbon to indicate a second award of that same medal, or the battle, campaign or reason for its award.
Examples; Flag of Chicago, US (fotw)
Notes
a) In vexillology a fess and a bar are regarded as almost synonymous.
b) With regard to 1), in strict heraldic usage there is a size difference between
a bar and a fess (as listed herein), and that a fess should be confined to the centreline of the field
whereas a bar or bars need not.
- BARBED
- 1) The heraldic term used when describing the leaves of a rose - but see ‘seeded’ and its following note (also
‘garnished’)
2) A heraldic term
also used to describe the metal point of an arrow
or of a spear, particularly when these are of a different tincture - but see ‘shafted’ (also ‘hafted’,
‘hilted’,
‘rogacina’ and
‘tincture’).
Flag of Yorkshire, UK (fotw);
Arms of Bramsche, Germany (Wikipedia);
Flag of Haguenau, France (fotw);
Arms of Dalecarlia, Sweden (Wikipedia)
Please note that this term is sometimes also applied to the thorns found on the stem of a rose.

Flag of the Party of
European Socialists (fotw)
- BAR CROSS
- An accurate but seldom used translation (balken meaning a “balk, “bar” or “beam” of
wood) of the German term balkenkreuz - see ‘balkenkreuz’.
- BARGE FLAG
- In UK usage, one of a number of varying flags (usually a banner of arms)
which are flown from the ceremonial barges of London’s livery companies (see
also ‘banner of arms’, and
‘boat flag 3)’).
Barge Flag/Banner of Arms of The Worshipful Company of Fletchers, London UK
Please note that in British RN and some other usage, the small boat carrying a vessel’s
commander, or a flag officer, is called the captain’s, commodore’s or admiral’s “barge”, but
that any rank flag or ensign flown from it is invariably called a “boat” flag as referenced
above.
- BARGEMAN’S ASSOCIATION DISPLAY MAST
- See ‘sailor's mast’.
- BARRULET (BARRELET, BARRULY or BARRULLY)
- Alternative heraldic terms for a narrow horizontal stripe that is rarely bourn singly, which is often
to be seen as a barrulet wavy and which in strict heraldic practice should occupy one-quarter the
width of a bar or about one-twentieth the width of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering
thereof – a barrelet, barrully or bracelet (see also
‘bar’,
‘barry’, ‘filet’ and
‘wavy’).

Example; Flag of Terradillos de Sedano,
Spain (fotw)
- BARRULET (BARRELET, BARRULY or BRACELET) WAVY
- In heraldry see ‘barrulet’.

Flag and Arms of Kreis Rheinwald, Switzerland (fotw
& Wikipedia)
- BARRY
- The heraldic term for the division of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering
thereof, into four or more usually (but not invariably) equal horizontal stripes in
alternating tinctures – but see
‘barry wavy’ and
‘multi-stripe’
(also ‘banner of arms’, ‘bar’, ‘barrulet’,
‘bar’, ‘quartering 1)’ and
‘tincture’).

Civil Ensign of Luxembourg (fotw);
Example; Flag of Il-Marsa, Malta (fotw)
- BARRY WAVY
- The heraldic term used to describe a series of wavy stripes, often (but not
invariably) in azure and argent to represent running water – but see
‘barry’ and
‘wavy’.
Flag and Arms of Trogir, Croatia (fotw);
Flag of
St Paul’s Bay, Malta (Wikipedia & fotw)
- BAR SINISTER
- This term, supposedly indicating illegitimacy, is a nineteenth century invention – for the correct heraldic phrase see ‘baton sinister’.
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