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# Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Semaphore – Set Towards)

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Last modified: 2026-04-25 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- SEMAPHORE
- SEMAPHORE FLAG
- SEMÉ (or SEMY)
- SEMÉ (or SEMY) OF BILLETS
- SEMEION (or SEMEIA)
- SEMI
- SEMI-CIRCULAR (or SEMICIRCULAR) SHIELD
- SENDAL
- SENIOR OFFICER AFLOAT PENNANT
- SEPALS
- SEPARATIST FLAG
- SERAPIS FLAG
- SERGEANT MAJOR’S COLOUR (or COLOR)
- SERRATED
- SERVICE ENSIGN
- SERVICE FLAG (or BANNER)
- SERVICE OF CONSECRATION
- SERVICE PENNANT
- SET TOWARDS

SEMAPHORE
  1) A system of signalling by means of two flags hand-held in various positions according to a recognized code (see also Morse code signalling with flags and wig wag).
  2) An obsolete system of signalling by means of movable mechanical arms that was widely used (aboard warships) prior to the invention/adoption of wireless telegraphy – telegraphing.
  3) A system of flags, pennants and black shapes hoisted in various positions to indicate the state and height of the tide in some French ports.

  Semaphore Flags, USN (seaflags.us)

  Please note with regard to 2), in British RN usage ships hoisted a designated semaphore flag to indicate that they were about to make a signal by means of the mechanical semaphore system – see semaphore flag.

SEMAPHORE FLAG
  See semaphore 2), and note.

  Semaphore Flag – Flag F in the contemporary Naval Code, UK

SEMÉ (or SEMY)
  1) In heraldry a term used when the ground of a shield (or any part thereof), or of a banner of arms or flag is strewn with an indeterminate number of charges – powdered or semy – (see also billetty, ermine, powdered 1)).
  2) In vexillology as above – but see the note below.

  Flag of El Garrobo, Spain; Flag of Widnau, Switzerland; Former Flag of Alvalade, Portugal

  Please note regarding 2), that in vexillology the term may be used even if the number and disposition of the charges are strictly determined as in, for example, the US national jack.

SEMÉ (or SEMY) OF BILLETS
  In heraldry see billetty.

  Flag of Kampenhout, Belgium

SEMEION (or SEMEIA)
  A cruciform vexilloid of classical Greece used aboard ship (to indicate command, for signalling and for identification) and sometimes draped with a phoinikis or purple cloak/length of cloth (see also standard 5) and vexilloid 2)).

  Notes
  a) The word semeion had a broad range of meanings in classical Greek all roughly corresponding to “sign” (see also signum) and it is accordingly suggested that the definition given above (whilst based on written sources) must be considered to some degree conjectural.
  b) Semeia is the plural form of semeion, and that classical Greek writers also refer to “barbarian semeia” with those of the Phoenicians recorded as having been a globe and crescent.

SEMI
  In heraldry see demi.

  Flag of Wildberg, Switzerland

SEMI-CIRCULAR (or SEMICIRCULAR) SHIELD
  The term used in some European heraldic systems (albeit inaccurately) to describe a round-bottomed or Spanish-style shield (see also French shield, Gothic shield, Italian shield, rectangular shield, shield 2), triarched triangular shield).

  Flag of Benkovac, Croatia; Flag of Ascurra, Brazil; Flag of Đelekovec, Croatia

SENDAL
  A fine silk fabric originally used as a field for the finest quality of various flags – cendal.

SENIOR OFFICER AFLOAT PENNANT
  A pennant hoisted to indicate the senior officer's ship when several warships of the same navy are alongside or at anchor in a port – a senior officer present afloat pennant (see also broad pennant, command pennant and flag of command).

  Senior Officer Afloat Pennants, Argentina, Estonia and Chile

  Notes
  a) There are many different designs than those shown above, and these might also have differing or additional meanings.
  b) A green-white-green square-ended pennant – the starboard pennant in the NATO signal code – is used for this purpose (at the starboard yardarm) by all warships of the Alliance, but usually only when there is no flag officer present who is flying his flag afloat. It is, however, also employed to indicate the senior officer when ships of more than one NATO navy are present in a port, irrespective of whether any flags of command or broad pennants are flying.

SEPALS
  In heraldry see barbed.

  Flag of Lancashire, UK

SEPARATIST FLAG
  See flag of a separatist movement

  Flag of the Hawar Islands Separatist Movement, Bahrain

SERAPIS FLAG
  See Franklin flag

  The Serapis/Franklin Pattern of Stars and Stripes, 1778

SERGEANT MAJOR'S COLOUR (or COLOR)
  See stand of colours 1), venn and the note below.

  Examples of Sergeant Major’s/Major's Colours in Venn A and Venn B, English c1641

  Please note that these flags relate to the field officer whose rank was immediately below that of Lt Colonel, and not to a senior non-commissioned officer as is modern usage.

SERRATED
  1) The vexillological term for a saw-toothed line on a shield, banner of arms or a flag (see also nettle leaf stepped and wolfteeth).
  2) In heraldry see indented and dancetty.
  3) A term that may be used for a saw-toothed stripe – a zigzag (see also wavy).

  Flag of Milíkov, Czechia; Civil Ensign of Taiwan 1929–1966; Flag of Valtice, Czechia

SERVICE ENSIGN
  1) See under ensign.

  Former Postal Ensign/Flag of Norway

SERVICE FLAG (or BANNER)
  1) See state flag 1) (also state service flag).
  2) See ensign 2) plus ‘government ensign’ and ‘service ensign’ under ensign.
  3) In US usage, a flag (instituted in 1926) flown annually at the Capitol, Washington on Armistice Day (11 November) to commemorate those who served or are serving in the armed services of that country – an American war mothers or armistice day flag.
  4) In largely North American usage, a flag/banner (originally introduced in 1917) for display by families, employers, or other organizations to signify that one or more members is/are serving in the armed forces – a sons in service flag or national service flag/banner.

  Armistice Day Flag, US; Service Flags US; Canada

  Please note with regard to 4) that a gold star (as illustrated above) or emblem indicates that the person being represented has died in service.

SERVICE OF CONSECRATION
  See consecration.

SERVICE PENNANT
  The generic term – and a direct translation of the German Dienstwimpel – for an increasingly obsolete type of pennant that is sometimes flown (in varying forms) together with the government ensign or from the mainmast of vessels in government employ to indicate the function or service involved, or occasionally from an appropriate shore based establishments – a departmental pennant (see also government ensign under ensign and main).

  DDR Shipping Inspectorate, 1955–90; Lifesaving Service, US; Icebreaking Service, Denmark

SET TOWARDS
  See off-set towards).

  National Flag of Greenland

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