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# Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Statant – Staynande Colours)

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Last modified: 2026-04-18 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- STATANT
- STATE ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)
- STATE COLOURS (or COLORS)
- STATE EMBLEM
- STATE ENSIGN
- STATE FLAG
- STATE MILITARY CREST
- STATE SEAL
- STATE SERVICE FLAG
- STATE SYMBOLS
- STATE WAR FLAG (or STATE WAR ENSIGN)
- STAYED MAST
- STAYNANDE COLOURS

STATANT
  The heraldic term used when an animal is depicted on all four feet standing still whilst facing the dexter – but see passant with the notes below (also dexter, paissant, rearing and trippant).

  Former Flag of Lyngdal, Norway; Flag of Mitteldithmarschen, Germany; Flag of Morávka, Czechia

  Notes
  a) A creature that is shown with one hoof or paw raised should be blazoned "passant" as referenced above.
  b) In modern heraldry the term is sometimes also applied to two-legged-creatures such as birds.

STATE ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)
  See under arms.

  Flag of the State of Michigan, US; State/National Arms of Chile; Flag of the State of New York, U.S.

STATE COLOURS (or COLORS)
  1) See national colours and colours 4).
  2) A special mark of distinction carried by some foot regiments of the British Brigade of Guards – but see second colour (also colour 2), colours 2) and royal standard 3)).
  3) The colours selected by a sub-national entity – particularly if the entity is called a “state” – as representative of that entity – colours of the state of or landesfarben (see also livery colours, state flag 2), state symbols 2) and sub-national flag).
  4) In US military usage a term, now obsolete, for one of the colours carried by a unit of state militia or volunteers (usually when mustered into federal service) as the second colour along with a national colour of the same design as that used by regiments of the regular army.

  Naval Ensign and National Colours of Italy, Colours of the State of New Mexico, US

STATE EMBLEM
  See emblem state, or national or royal under emblem.

  State Emblem of Turkmenistan; State/National Emblem of North Korea

STATE ENSIGN
  1) See ‘government ensign’ under ensign.
  2) A term used to denote that flag flown on vessels operated by the government agencies of a sub national entity – but see admiralty flag 2) (also state flag 2)).

  State/Government Ensign of Belgium; State Ensign of Hamburg, Germany

STATE FLAG
  1) A variant of the national flag (or occasionally a completely different design) which is restricted by law or custom (theoretically or actually) to use by a country's government, and can often differ from the national flag by the addition of a coat of arms or emblem – the government flag or federal service flag (see also civil flag, coat of arms, emblem, national and national flag, together with ‘government ensign‘ and ‘naval ensign’ listed under ensign).
  2) See flag of the state of and the note below.

  State Flag of Peru; State Flag of Poland; Federal Service Flag of Austria

  Please note with regard to 2), that that the sub-national flag of a state (such as those of the US) should always referred to as "the flag of the state of" as referenced above to avoid confusion with 1).

STATE MILITARY CREST
  See military crest.

  State Military Crest of Nebraska, US

STATE SEAL
  1) See seal of the state of.
  2) See seal.

  State Seal of Utah, US; State Seal of South Dakota, US; State Seal of the Northern Mariana Islands

STATE SERVICE FLAG
  1) A term describing those flags of German and Austrian states – or Länder – that are intended for official as opposed to civil use (see also ceremonial flag 1), flag of the state of, official flag 2), sub-national flag with following notes).
  2) See federal service flag.

  The State Service Flag and Civil Flag of Saxony, Germany; The State Service Flag of Styria, Austria

STATE SYMBOLS
  1) See national symbols.
  2) Those things, often established by law, which have been adopted as being symbolic of a sub-national entity particularly when that entity is called a state, these may include the flag of the state, and the state coat of arms or emblem, the state colours and possibly a motto, a plant, an animal and/or a bird etc (see also flag of the state of and state colours 2)).

  Some Symbols of the State of New Mexico, US: Flag of the State, State Seal and State Colours (fotw, ICH and CS)

STATE WAR FLAG (or STATE WAR ENSIGN)
  A direct translation of the German term Reichskriegsflagge, and referring to the war flags in use from 1935 to 1945 – see war flag 1) and war flag 2) (also imperial war ensign).

  Reichskriegsflaggen/State War Flags of Germany 1935–1938 and 1938–1945

STAYED MAST
  A heavy high mast supported by means of stay cables. Stayed masts are often erected at sea training establishments with proper main and top yards for seamanship training purposes or at yacht clubs, and are fitted with a main yard gaff for the hoisting of an ensign (see also ensign, gaff, peak, sailor’s mast, yard).

STAYNANDE COLOURS
  In heraldry see abatements (also stains and its following note).

  Lion couard denoting cowardice or dishonour (Wikipedia)

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