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# Dictionary of Vexillology: A (Armorial Banner – Arrow Cross)

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

- ARMORIAL BANNER
- ARMORIAL BEARINGS
- ARMORIAL ENSIGN
- ARMORIAL FLAG
- ARMORIAL SAIL
- ARMOURED
- ARMS
  - Greater Arms
  - Lesser Arms
  - Middle Arms
  - State Arms
- ARMY ENSIGN
- ARMY FLAG
- ARRONDI
- ARRONDISSEMENT FLAGS/PENNANTS
- ARROW
- ARROW CROSS

ARMORIAL BANNER
  1) In heraldry see banner of arms.
  2) A term that may also be used when the banner concerned contains all or some of the elements from a coat of arms, but where that flag and those arms differ in their layout, and/or in the detail/quantity of any such charges – but see armorial flag 2) (also coat of arms 2).

  Armorial Banner and Arms of Aleksandrów Kujawski Rural District according to definition 1), Poland; Arms and Flag of Černotín, Czechia according to definition 2)

  Please note that the extension of this term, as given in definition 2), has been introduced by the Editors as no established alternative could be found.

ARMORIAL BEARINGS
  The heraldic term for all the armorial insignia to which an individual or family, a corporate institution such as a nation, province or municipality, or a commercial enterprise are entitled – an achievement of arms or complete (armorial) achievement or establishment of arms – but see note below for further details (also greater arms and state arms 2) under arms, blazon, coat of arms 1), quarters, quartering and quarterly).

  Flag of Nottingham, UK; Armorial Bearings, UK (Graham Bartram); Flag of Saskatoon, Canada

  Please note, however, that (as is shown above) a full set of armorial bearings can include (for example) shield, supporters, helmet, torse, crest, collar, mantling, compartment, motto etc., and whilst many of the terms used are illustrated in Appendix IV and/or briefly defined herein, it is suggested that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted for full details.

ARMORIAL ENSIGN
  1) The term that is used to describe a historical naval ensign which displays a full set of armorial bearings, usually (but not invariably) against a plain field (see also armorial flag 1), armorial flag 2, naval ensign under ensign
  2) A newly extended term that is intended to cover a British or British-style ensign (or a canton flag) whose fly is defaced with a set of armorial bearings or the escutcheon therefrom (see also blue ensign, government ensign under ensign and red ensign).

  Flag of British Antarctic Territories; State and War Ensign, Spain 1701–1759; War Ensign of Fiji

ARMORIAL FLAG
  1) Generically, a term that covers any flag showing all or part of an entity’s armorial bearings against a field of any description (see also banner of arms and coat of arms 2)).
  2) Specifically, a term that may also cover any flag whose main charge is a set of armorial bearings or a part thereof, and which is set against either livery colours or a plain field – but see armorial banner 2) and ensign-banner (also banner of arms, charge 2), plain 2) and seal flag).

  Flag and Arms of Delaware, USA; Flag of Białogard Rural District, Poland

  Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors since no established alternative could be found.

ARMORIAL SAIL
  A term for the largely (but not entirely) obsolete practice of having all or a part of a coat of arms displayed on a vessel’s sail (see also armorial bearings, flag sail).

  NCO Naval School, Colombia

ARMOURED
  1) In vexillology a term that may be used when a human figure, or any part thereof, is clad in armour – but see below.
2) In heraldry see harnysed and vambraced.

Flag of Menziken, Switzerland; Naval Jack of Poland; Flag of Riva San Vitale, Switzerland

ARMS
  See armorial bearings, coat of arms and the four sub-headings below.

  The Arms of Bilje, Croatia; Flag of Nottingham, UK; Arms of Belica, Croatia

  Greater Arms
  In largely northern European usage, an official description for the full set of armorial bearings of a nation or province – big arms or big coat of arms – but see middle arms, lesser arms, state arms 2) (also coat of arms 1) and coat of arms 2)).

  Greater Arms of Sweden and of Hamburg, Germany

  Lesser Arms
  In largely northern European usage, the most simplified form in which the set of armorial bearings of a nation or province may be officially shown – small arms or small coat of arms – but see greater arms, middle arms and state arms 1) (also coat of arms 1) and coat of arms 2)).

  Lesser Arms of Czechia and Hamburg, Germany

  Middle Arms
  In largely northern European usage, a simplified form in which the set of armorial bearings of a nation or province may be officially shown – but see greater arms, lesser arms and state arms 1) (also coat of arms 1) and coat of arms 2)).

  Middle Arms of Bremen and of Hamburg, Germany

  State Arms (or Coat of Arms)
  1) Generically any coat of arms or emblem that is considered representative of a nation or of a nation state – the national arms (see also lesser arms and middle arms, coat of arms 1) and coat of arms 2), emblem, state or national and sash 1)).
  2) Specifically the establishment of arms that officially represents a nation state, as opposed to any part (or parts) therefrom, or those of the relevant head of state or of any variation which may appear on a flag (see also establishment of arms, flag arms, greater arms, imperial arms, presidential arms and royal arms).
  3) The term may also be used to describe the arms of a sub-national division within a nation when any such division is called a “state”, however, the phrase “arms of the state of” is more precise and to be preferred (see also flag of the state of).

  State/National Arms of Ecuador and Arms of the State of New Jersey, US

ARMY ENSIGN
  In British Army usage and some others, the term for an ensign (different from the branch of service flag) that is flown at sea by vessels manned by military (as opposed to naval) personnel (see also government ensign under ensign).

  Army Ensign, UK; Ensign (in abeyance) of an Army Vessel Commanded by a Commissioned Officer, UK

ARMY FLAG
  See branch of service flag (also armed services flag).

  Army Flag, Canada; Army Flag, Georgia; Former Army Flag, Kenya

ARRONDI
  In largely (but not entirely) Continental European heraldry, the term sometimes used to describe a rounded charge in place of the usual English equivalent of embowed – for example a chaussé arrondi as illustrated below (see also chaussé).

  Flag of Rehetobel, Switzerland

ARRONDISSEMENT FLAGS/PENNANTS
  See registration flags.

  Arrondissement Flag and Pennant, Department of Lorient, France

ARROW
  The image of a projectile with shaft, flights and head, but see the notes below (also barbed 2), rogacina and shafted).

  Flag of São Sebastião do Passé, Brazil; Arms of Podcrkavlje, Croatia; Flag of Münster-Sarmsheim, Germany

  Notes
  a) This term may also include pointer symbolising direction, and (as importantly):
  b) In Continental European usage what is described (sometimes officially) as an "arrow" (often due to lack of precise definition in some languages) may actually be the shorter, heavier bolt or quarrel from a crossbow.

ARROW CROSS
  A reputedly early Medieval symbol in the form of four connected arrowheads, that became (1940–1945) the emblem of the Hungarian Nazi Party (the Nyilaskeresztes Párt) and occasionally used elsewhere – a cross barbed – see swastika (also rogacina and sun cross).

  Flags of the Nyilaskeresztes Párt, Hungary 1940–1945; Former Flag of the Falange Venezolana, Venezuela

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