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# Dictionary of Vexillology: E (Enamels – Enhanced Bend Sinister)

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Last modified: 2026-04-25 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- ENAMELS
- ENARCHED
- ENCENIATOR
- ENCIRCLED (or ENCOMPASSED)
- ENCROACHING UPON (or ON)
- ENDENTED
- ENDING TRIANGULARLY
- ENDORSE (or ENDORCE)
- ENDORSED
- ENFILED
- ENFLAMED
- ENGLISH (or ENGLAND) PENNANT
- ENGRAILED
- ENGRAILED CROSS
- ENGRAILED FLY
- ENHANCED
- ENHANCED BEND
- ENHANCED BEND SINISTER

ENAMELS
  An alternative term for the basic colours used in heraldry as illustrated below – see tinctures.

  From left: Gules, Azure, Vert, Purpure and Sable

ENARCHED
  An alternative heraldic term covering arched and embowed.

  Flag of Nebikon, Switzerland

ENCENIATOR
  A medieval term, now obsolete, for a mounted standard bearer (see also balcanifer).

  Royal Standard Bearer/Enceniator, England c1450 (figurines-et-collections.com)

ENCIRCLED (or ENCOMPASSED)
  1. The alternative terms that are used when a continuous line, or number of smaller charges are placed in a circular (or near circular) pattern around a larger one – encompassed.
  2. Terms that are also used (albeit inaccurately) to describe a border set around or within a non-circular centre such as a shield – in heraldry see orle.

  Flag of the Gibraltar Police; Flag of Hamilton, Canada

ENCROACHING UPON (or ON)
  See covering 1) and overall 2)

  State Flag of Bremen, Germany; Flag of Almería, Spain

ENDENTED
  An alternative heraldic term for indented – see indented 1).

  Flag of Munxar, Malta

ENDING TRIANGULARLY
  See triangular-ended.

  Gonfalon of Donja Dubrava, Croatia

ENDORSE (or ENDORCE)
  1) An alternative heraldic term to pallet.
  2) The heraldic term which can describe a vertical stripe that is one-half the width of a 'pallet' as referenced above.

  Arms and Flag of Vila Boa de Ousilhão, Portugal

ENDORSED
  An alternative heraldic term to addorsed.

  Former Arms and Flag of Aure, Norway

ENFILED
  In heraldry the term used when a weapon (primarily but not exclusively a sword) is placed so that it passes through a beast, coronet or any other object (see also sword).

  Flag of Suffolk, England

ENFLAMED
  An alternative heraldic term to inflamed.

  Arms and Flag of Velika Kopahnica, Croatia

ENGLISH (or ENGLAND) PENNANT
  In UK usage, the terms employed to describe a white trapezoidal pennant with a Cross of St George overall, which may be flown where a flagpole would otherwise be unused – an England Pennant or Pennant of England (see also Cross of St George, overall 1), pennant, Scottish pennant, trapezoid 2), union pennant, Welsh pennant, wimpel 1)).

ENGRAILED
  (adj) A heraldic term for where a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, a border or the edge of an ordinary, is cut into a series of indented curves or half circles strung together – that is with the half-circles facing inward and points outward – ingrailed – see invected (also armorial bearings, banner of arms, coat of arms, ordinary shield, scalloped).

  Flag of Wennigsen at Deister, Germany; Flag of Sögel, Germany; Flag of Hoogland, The Netherlands

ENGRAILED CROSS
  See engrailed.

  Arms and Flag of Espinho, Portugal

ENGRAILED FLY
  (adj) A term for a form of flag, now largely but not entirely obsolete, whose fly either came to a point or was extended by a central projection, but in which both sides form a concave arc (see also engrailed, ogival, stepped fly, schwenkel).

  14th century Flag of Tunis; 14th century Flag of Šibenik, Croatia; 13th century Flag of Aragon

  Notes
  a) This is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors since no established alternative could be found.
  b) At the time of writing it is unclear as to whether the flag having a straight-sided but angled fly should be considered as "engrailed" or "stepped" – see stepped fly.

ENHANCED
  1) A heraldic term for when the main ordinary on a shield, banner of arms or flag is borne higher that its usual position – raised (see also abased, banner of arms and ordinary).
  2) A term that may also be used when a shield is placed in a higher position than is normal (see also shield 1)).

  Flag of Gibraltar; Flag of Craywick, France; Flag of Světlá nad Sázavou, Czechia

  Please note however, that enhanced has a slightly different meaning when applied to the vexillological terms enhanced bend and enhanced bend sinister given below.

ENHANCED BEND
  See north-south diagonal (also Appendix IX).

ENHANCED BEND SINISTER
  See south-north diagonal (also Appendix IX).

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