New Zealand Flag Institute

GLOSSARY

 

 

 

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Pole Band -

The canvas heading of the flag left open at both ends so that a staff can be passed through it.

 

Pole Hem -

A sleeve or tunnel of the same fabric and colour as the background of the flag, through which the staff is passed for mounting indoor and parade flags.

 

Port-epee, or dress knot -

A knot of rope (generally gold or silver) attached to a sword. National colours may be displayed from the dress knot.

 

Position of honour -

The place given to the highest ranking flag especially when carried in procession.

 

Post flag -

A flag worn by vessels carrying mail. In the U.S. Army, a post flag  is a large flag regularly flown over every Army base. It is traditionally 10 feet (3 m) wide by 19 feet (5.8 m) long.

 

PURPURE -

In heraldry, the colour purple.

 

QUARTERED -

The joining together of three or more (despite the name) SHIELD’s to form a composite shield. Also applied to ARMORIAL BEARING’s. The first quarter is that in the upper half of the hoist and the place of honour in a flag; also called the canton and sometimes also the upper hoist. The other quarters are the second, for the quarter in the upper half of the fly, and third (also called the lower hoist), and fourth for the lower half of the hoist, and lower half of the fly respectively.