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# Dictionary of Vexillology: M (Magen David – Maltese-like Cross)

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Last modified: 2026-04-11 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- MAGEN DAVID
- MAGIC RATIO
- MAIL FLAG (or PENNANT)
- MAIN, AT THE
- MAINMAST (or MAIN)
- MAIN ORDINARIES
- MAJOR’S COLOUR (or COLOR)
- MAKE HER NUMBER
- MAKING COLOURS
- MALTESE CROSS
- MALTESE-LIKE CROSS

MAGEN DAVID
  The Shield or Star of David composed of two interlaced triangles forming a six pointed star, and symbolic of Judaism (see also menorah).

  Naval Ensign, National Emblem (Wikipedia) and Civil Ensign of Israel

  Please note that the Magen David is also known as the Seal of Solomon and as such may be represented as a pentagram of with five points as it now appears on the flags of Ethiopia and Morocco (based on the Hebrew Encyclopaedia) – see pentagram.

  National Emblem of Ethiopia

MAGIC RATIO
  See golden mean.

  National Flag of Togo in the golden mean/magic ratio

MAIL FLAG (or PENNANT)
  See postal flag.

  Flag of the Mail/Postal Service, Ukraine; Royal Mail Pennant, UK

MAIN, AT THE
  (adv) The phrase used when a flag is flown from the truck of a ship's mainmast it is described as being "at the main" – see mainmast (also mast, masthead, masthead pennant 1), truck).

  Flag of an Admiral 1853, Austria-Hungary

  Please note that in the sailing/steam-assisted navy, the command flag of a full-admiral was formerly flown in this position (also balls of difference, flag of command, flagship).

MAINMAST (or MAIN)
  The most important mast in a ship or yacht, or the tallest mast in a sailing warship from which the masthead pennant was formerly flown – but see main, at the (also foremast, mast 2), masthead, mizzen).

MAIN ORDINARIES
  In heraldry see ordinary.

  Examples: Chief; Cross; Pale; Saltire; Fess; Pile; Chevron; Quarter; Bend

MAJOR'S COLOUR (or COLOR)
  See stand of colours 1) and venn.

  Examples of Major’s Colours, English c1641

MAKE HER NUMBER
  (v) To hoist that group of signal flags which identify a ship in a recognized code code – a term now increasingly obsolete – see call sign hoist and the note below (also international code of signal flags, pendant number, private signal 3), signal flag).

  MTLQ in the 1866 Commercial Code of Signals – from the 1880 International Code of Signals – and the "number" of SS Australia (P&O Lines) c1898

  Please note that use of two flags to indicate the country of registration applies only to a call sign hoist in the current International Code.

MAKING COLOURS
  See colours 5).

  Naval Ensign, UK; Naval Ensign South Africa 1952–1981

MALTESE CROSS
  1) In correct heraldic/vexillological usage the term for a cross made up of four arrowheads, with straight-sided arms, eight outward facing points and four inner points which meet at the centre – a cross of (the order of) St. John of Jerusalem, a cross of the Order of Malta or a cross Maltese.
  2) In less precise (and technically incorrect) usage, this term can include a cross of the Maltese pattern which does not have four points meeting in the centre – a cross pattée fourché, cross of eight points or a Maltese-like cross (see below) – but see note a) below (also cross fourché).

  Flag of the Grand Master of the Military Order of Malta; Flag of Villars-Sainte-Croix, Switzerland; Flag of Lora del Río, Spain

  Notes
  a) With regard to 2) in strict heraldic terms a cross of this type should be correctly called a cross pattée fourché as referenced above.
  b) The cross on the national flag of Malta is not a Maltese cross but is the emblem of a British order of gallantry – the George Cross – see George cross.

MALTESE-LIKE CROSS
  See Maltese cross 2).

  Flag of Portel, Portugal

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