- CONDUCTING COLOURS
- See colours 5).
- CONE(S)
- A term sometimes used in place of upright triangle, and often when two or
more are seen together see triangle.
- CONE TAPERED
- A simplified form of the Venetian entasis taper in which a flag pole tapers evenly from its
base to the truck but see Venetian entasis taper
(also flag pole and
truck).
- CONFANONERIUS
- A medieval term, now obsolete, for a
standard bearer.
- CONFANONUM (or CONFARONUM)
- A medieval term, now obsolete, for a gonfanon.
- CONJOINED (or CONJUNCT)
- 1) A heraldic term used when two or more charges are joined together so as to touch each
other - conjunct, or joinant (see also charge 1)).
- 2) See interlaced.
Flag and Emblem of the Army 2002 03, South Africa (fotw);
Flag and Arms of entilj, Croatia (fotw)
Please note not to be confused with two sets of arms, or
elements from those arms, which are impaled by dimidiation see
'dimidiated' and following note.
- CONOISSANSE
- See cognisance.
- CONSECRATION
- The usually religious ceremony at which a new military or other ceremonial colour is
dedicated a service or ceremony of consecration or the blessing of a flag (see also
colour 2) and parade flag).
Please note that a ceremony of consecration particularly that
of some non-military colours - may also include the honouring of an individual with the title
of God Parent to the flag involved - see flag patron).
- CONSECRATION CROSS
- See rounded cross.
- CONSTRUCTION SHEET
- See specification sheet.
- CONSULAR (CONSULAR OFFICERS or CONSULS) FLAG
- See diplomatic flags.
![[UK consular flag]](../images/v/vxt-d568.gif)
![[UK consular flag]](../images/v/vxt-d568a.gif)
Consular Officers Flags Ashore and Afloat, UK (Graham Bartram)
- CONTINENTAL COLORS (or COLOURS)
- The first version of what later became the US national flag whose canton consisted
of the British 1606 pattern union jack rather than white stars on a blue field, and
in unofficial use from 1775 to 1777 the grand (or occasionally great) union,
or Cambridge flag
(see also Betsy Ross flag,
British flag,
Franklin flag,
gridiron flag,
old glory,
quincunx,
star-spangled banner
and stars and stripes).
The Continental Colors, US (fotw)
- CONTOURNΙ
- See Appendix V.
- CONVENTIONAL FLAG
- See hoisted flag.
-
- CONVERGING STRIPE(S)
- A term that may be used when a stripe or stripes narrow from the hoist to
the fly and finish at one fixed point (or two closely spaced points) as in,
for example, several maritime/naval pennants - but see 'expanding stripe(s)'
(also 'burgee', 'masthead pennant 1)', 'stripe(s)' and 'striped')."
Burgee of the Jedriliearski klub Split, Croatia (fotw); Squadron Commanders Pennant, Uruguay (fotw); Masthead Pennant, Croatia (fotw)
Please note that this is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors as no properly accurate and established alternative could be found.
-
- CONVOY FLAG
- See fanion 2).
- CORD(S)
- 1) A length of decorative string or rope made from several twisted strands
with tassels at each end, generally made of silk (or a silk-like material) in
the livery or national colours (or gold/silver thread), simply knotted or tied
a bow at the centre and used to decorate a staff just below the finial
especially ( but not exclusively) that of a parade flag or military colour
(see also colour 2),
cravat 1),
finial,
lanyard 1),
livery colours,
national colours 2),
parade flag 2),
staff 2) and
tassels).
- 2) As above but without tassels and used to finish the edges of a flag, usually
in the livery or national colours (or gold/silver thread).
-
- CORDS AND TASSELS
- See cord(s) 1) and tassels.
- CORE FLAG
- The flag whose design forms the basis of other flags, or which inspired
the creation of other flags, with a typical two examples being the Arab revolt
flag of 1917 and the French tricolore (see
also archivexillum,
difference 1)
flag family, 'pan-African Colours',
'pan-Arab Colours' and 'pan-Slavic Colours').
Arab Revolt Flag 1917 and French Tricolore (fotw)
- CORNET (or CORNETTE or CORNUTE)
- 1) In largely British maritime usage a term, now increasingly obsolete, for
a small triangular pennant (see also 'pennant 2)').
- 2) In largely British RN and some other usage a term, now almost wholly obsolete,
for a swallow-tailed flag, particularly a signal flag (see also
signal flag
and swallow-tail(ed)).
- 3) A 17th/18th Century generic term, now obsolete, referring to any small,
swallow-tailed flag.
- 4) An alternative form of guidon, now obsolete, as being the distinguishing
flag of a cavalry regiment (see also guidon 2)).
- 5) A term, now obsolete, for lowest commissioned rank in the cavalry regiments
of some countries (including those of the UK), being that rank responsible for
carrying the regiments cornet or guidon.
- CORNSHEAF
- See garbe.
- CORONATION FLAGS (or BANNERS)
- A term for those flags or banners (differing from the usual royal standard) which are prepared
specifically for display at the installation (coronation, swearing-in or simple inauguration) of a
monarch and often consisting of the relevant royal arms on a plain field a rijksvaandel,
riksbanner or banner of the realm (see also greater arms
under arms and royal standard(s) 1)).
Coronation Flags (riksbanner), Norway 1906 and 1818 (official website)
- CORONET
- 1) Generically on flags, a crown without a curved bar across the top that
may be seen in a wide variety of shapes and circumstances - an open crown
(see also antique crown,
'civic crown',
crown, 'mural crown' and
'naval crown').
- 2) Specifically on flags, the term may be used when a hereditary ruler (or
former hereditary ruler) is of a
lesser rank than that of crowned monarch - a princely, arch-ducal or
grand-ducal coronet (bonnet
or hat), or similar (see also electoral cap).
- 3) In English heraldry a crown without cross bar across the top as 1) above,
but also a symbol of nobility whose exact design is dependent upon the rank of
the person concerned (see also mantle).
![[coronet]](../images/v/vxt-d906.gif)
![[coronet]](../images/v/vxt-d906a.gif)
![[coronet]](../images/v/vxt-d906b.gif)
Archducal Coronet, Austria (fotw); Coronets of an Earl and of a Viscount in English heraldry (Wikipedia)
Please note that the use of a cross-bar across the
top to indicate royal status and to differentiate between a crown and a coronet
is of comparatively recent date.
- CORPORATE FLAG
- The distinguishing flag of a shore based commercial concern as opposed to
that of merchant marine company (see also
house flag 1) and
logo).
![[Corporate flag]](../images/v/vxt-d582.gif)
Corporate Flag of Lufthansa, Germany (fotw)
- CORPORATION (or CORPORATE) BANNER
- In largely UK usage, a type of processional banner whose symbolism relates to the
corporate body of a town council or corporation, or to the community represented
see banner 3).
- CORSAIR ENSIGN
- See privateer ensign.
- COTTICE (COTISE or COST)
- See appendix VII (also
cotticed 1) below).
- COTTICED (COTISED or COTIZED)
- 1) On flags, a term that may be used to describe the addition of one or more
narrow stripes or bands to an existing charge (such as a stripe or cross) but
which is separated from that charge by a strip of field - but see note below.
- 2) In heraldry the term has a rather more restricted/complex use which is
briefly described in Appendix VII, however, it is
suggested that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry should be
consulted for further details.
Flag of Svitavy Okres, Czech Republic (fotw);
Naval Ensign of Ukraine (fotw); Imperial War Flag 1903 1919, Germany (fotw); Flag of Koblenzer Rowing club, Germany (fotw)
Please note with regard to 1) that where the field is not shown between the charge
and the cottice (as illustrated below) it should be described as double or triple fimbriated as appropriate
(see also fimbriation 1)).
War Ensign of Germany 1938 1945 (fotw); Pennant of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobilclub, Germany (fotw)
- COUCHANT
- See Appendix V.
- COUNTER-
- The heraldic prefix used when two charges on a shield, banner of arms or flag are turned in contrary directions
as in fleuri-counterfleuri (see double-tressure), or when two
tinctures are reversed either side of a line or lines drawn through a coat of arms see
counterchanged (also
counterchanged cross in appendix VIII and
counter-compony).
- COUNTER-COMPONY
- An abbreviation of the heraldic term compony counter-compony used when an
ordinary or border is composed of two rows of squares (or occasionally
rectangles) in alternating tinctures see counter- above and
compony
(also checky 1),
checky 2),
counterchanged below,
ordinary and
tincture).
Flag of Olsberg, Switzerland (fotw): Flag of Niemcza, Poland (Jarig
Bakker): Flag of Calfreisen, Switzerland (fotw)
- COUNTERCHANGED (or COUNTER-CHANGED)
- (adj) A basically heraldic term used to describe two colours alternating either
side of a line or lines drawn through a flag or coat of arms or charge - parti-coloured
(see also charge,
coat of arms 2)
counter-,
counterchanged cross in appendix VIII,
counter-compony above
and faceted).
![[counterchanged]](../images/v/vxt-d101.gif)
![[Greenland]](../images/v/vxt-d101a.gif)
![[Maryland, US]](../images/v/vxt-d101b.gif)
![[Tubise Belgium]](../images/v/vxt-d101c.gif)
From left: counterchanged example; Flag of Greenland (CS); Flag of Maryland, USA (CS); Flag of Tubize, Belgium (Ivan Sache)
- COUNTERCHANGED CROSS
- See cross counterchanged in
Appendix VIII.
- COUNTY FLAG
- See sub-national flag (also
civic flag 2).
- COUPEAU
- A French heraldic term for the base of a shield, banner of arms or a flag that is composed of
semi-circular mounds, and is intended to represent (usually) three (but up to six) hills
see compartment (also mount).
Arms and Flag of Ludbreg, Croatia (fotw); Arms of Pope Paul VI (Modern Popes); Flag of Oberohrdorf, Switzerland (fotw)
- COUPEAU OF THREE (or OF FIVE)
- See coupeau above.
- COUPED
- 1) The heraldic term used when a charge is cut off in a straight line as is often the case with the heads and
limbs of animals but see 2) below (also 'erased')..
- 2) A heraldic term that is also used when an ordinary or charge does not extend to
the edges of a shield or banner of arms, for example a cross-couped but see
slipped (also
charge,
cross-couped in appendix VIII,
Greek cross 2) and
ordinary).
Unofficial Flag of Northern Ireland (fotw); Flag of Andwil, Switzerland (fotw); National Flag of Tonga (fotw)
- COURTESY FLAG
- That flag (normally, but not exclusively, the national flag of the country
being visited) flown from a prominent position on a merchant vessel as a matter
of courtesy when visiting a foreign port a complimentary flag (see also
yardarm).
- COVERING
- In vexillology the term used when a canton charge or emblem obscures the entire width of a stripe or stripes on a multi-striped flag,
and in the case of a canton usually (but not invariably) at the hoist for example, a square or rectangular canton covering the first
three stripes or a charge off-set towards the hoist and covering the centre
five stripes as shown below - encroaching upon (see also
canton 2),
multi-stripe 2),
overall 2) and
multi-stripe 3)).
National Flag of Togo (fotw); Flag of Goiαs, Brazil (fotw); Flag of The Bohus Line, Sweden (Eugene Ipavec)
Please note that this term is never used alone but always with the number of
stripes being covered.
- COWARD
- See appendix V.
- COWED
- See queued.
