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# Dictionary of Vexillology: R (Remembrance Flag – Riverwheel)

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

- REMEMBRANCE FLAG
- RENAISSANCE SHIELD
- REPEATER (or REPEATING PENNANT)
- REPEATING FRIGATES
- REPLICA FLAG (or REPRODUCTION)
- RESERVE ENSIGN
- RESPECTANT
- RETREAT CEREMONY
- REVEILLE
- REVERSE
- REVERSE BEND
- REVERSED
- REVERSED CHEVRON
- REVERSED PALL
- REVERSED PILE
- REVERSED TRIANGLE
- RHOMBUS
- RIBBON
- RIBBON SCROLL
- RIGGED
- RIGHT DIAGONAL (or RIGHT DIAGONAL BAR)
- RIGHT-ANGLE TRIANGLE
- RIGHT-HOISTED
- RIKSBANNER (or RIJKSVAANDEL)
- RING
- RISING
- RISING DIAGONAL
- RISING FROM
- RISING SUN
- RIVERWHEEL (or RIVERMILL WHEEL)

REMEMBRANCE FLAG
  See memorial flag 2).

  9/11 Remembrance/Memorial Flag, US

RENAISSANCE SHIELD
  The term often used to describe a variously detailed but elaborate late-medieval, post-medieval, Baroque or heart-shaped shield – see shield (also horse-head shield).

  Flag of Požega, Croatia; Arms of Ilok, Croatia; Ceremonial Flag of Ravna Gora, Croatia

  Please note that several of the terms giving shields a national identity, as well as those describing a specific type, are still in the process of standardization, and that no consistent approach has thus far been identified, however, use of this specific term is both widespread and consistent, so it may be employed with some confidence.

REPEATER (or REPEATER PENNANT)
  See substitute.

  I-L-L (India-Lima-Lima) in the International Code of Signals using the First Repeater/Substitute Pennant

REPEATING FRIGATES
  The 18th/19th century term, now obsolete, for those frigates that were stationed outside or behind the main line in a fleet of sailing or steam-assisted warships in order to relay flag signals to ships out of view of the flagship (see also flagship, man-o-war and signal flag).

  French frigate 1802 (Wikipedia)

  Please note that in the context of the above definition a frigate was a naval vessel which carried her main armament on a single, part-enclosed deck.

REPLICA FLAG (or REPRODUCTION)
  The terms which may be used to describe that flag which is a visual or actual reproduction of an earlier design – a reproduction (see also fictitious flag and flag of pretence 1)).

  A rejected design of 1919 (for a Flag of the RAF) flown as a Replica in 2010; Reproduction of the Standard of Constantine the Great c323

RESERVE ENSIGN
  See under ensign.

  Reserve Ensign of the UK; Reserve Ensign of India

RESPECTANT
  The heraldic term used when two animals are depicted facing towards each other – but see combatant, confronting and affrontant.

  Flag of Nax, Switzerland; Flag of Northeim County, Germany; Flag of Samouco, Portugal

RETREAT CEREMONY
  In military usage, a formal ceremony requiring a full guard and band for lowering the national flag at the end of the day on special occasions (see also reveille and sunset).

  Please note that this ceremony has its roots in late Medieval and early Renaissance period with the formal ceremonies associated with closing the gates of fortresses and castles for the night.

REVEILLE
  In UK, US and some other military usage, the ceremony of hoisting the national flag at the start of a day and taken from the name of the bugle call sounded to awaken the troops (see also colours 5) and retreat ceremony).

REVERSE
  The less important side of a flag which in the Western tradition is always depicted with its hoist to the observer’s right and is generally, but not invariably, a mirror image of the obverse – see obverse (also ceremonial flag 1), colour 2), right hoisted, and unique flag).

  Reverses: National Flags of Portugal, St Kitts and Nevis and Guinea

  Please note that a distinctive reverse design or charge will usually only be found on unique flags, ceremonial flags, regimental colours and similar, there are however, occasional exceptions – see double-sided 1) and two-sided 1)).

REVERSE BEND
  See bend sinister

  Flag of Monfarracinos, Spain

REVERSED
  1) On flags, the term is used to refer to a charge or charges that run in the opposite direction to that in which they are normally placed (see also reversed chevron, reversed pall, reversed pile and reversed triangle).
  2) In heraldry, as above but the term is also used when arms or a charge are reversed or turned downward – debased, everted, inverted, subverted, subvertant or transposed.

  Flag of Birżebbuġa, Malta; Example

REVERSED CHEVRON
  See chevron 1) and chevron 2).

  Flag of the California Transport Corp. c1953

REVERSED PALL
  See pall 1).

  Flag of Krasnoarmeyskiy, Russia

REVERSED PILE
  See pile 1).

  Flag of Paszowice, Poland

REVERSED TRIANGLE
  See triangle 1).

  Flag of Łomża rural district, Poland

RHOMBUS
  See lozenge 1).

  National Flag of Brazil

RIBBON
  1) See scroll (also ribbon scroll 2)).
  2) See cravat 2) and draping.
  3) A term that is also (and inaccurately) used to describe a wavy stripe – see wavy.

RIBBON SCROLL
  1) Generically, see scroll.
  2) Specifically, the term used for a narrow ribbon in the form of a scroll but of greater length than is usual); it is normally (but not exclusively) placed below and/or around the shield in a set of armorial bearings or an emblem, and is generally inscribed with a motto – a ribbon.

  Flag of Saint John, Canada; Arms and Flag of Dorog, Hungary (Wikipedia & fotw)

  Please note with regard to 2) that further examples (amongst several) are to be found on the flags of the US States of Iowa and Massachusetts (see also scroll).

RIGGED
  In largely (if not exclusively) South European usage, a term used to describe the sails of ocean-going/leisure vessels or the fabric-covered vanes of (Spanish or Portuguese type) windmills – but see the notes below.

  Proposed flag of Esposende, Portugal; Arms of Carvoeira, Portugal; Flag of Castedo, Portugal

  Notes
  a) In this instance the term "rigging" applies only to the cabling which supports and tensions a sailing vessel's masts/running gear, whilst the term "rigged" (as listed above) can apply to both rope and sails however:
  b) As seen here the latter term should (correctly speaking) only be used to describe the type of rig employed – gaff-rigged, schooner-rigged or fully-rigged etc. – and that the Editors recommend the heraldically correct phrase "with sail/sails Argent" (or of whatever tincture) be employed.

RIGHT DIAGONAL (or RIGHT DIAGONAL BAR)
  See bend and descending diagonal 1).

  Flag and Arms of Waaxens, The Netherlands

RIGHT-ANGLE TRIANGLE
  See bicolour 1) (also triangular panel 2)).

  National Flag of Papua New Guinea

RIGHT-HOISTED
  A term that may be used (in place of its heraldic equivalent) when the obverse of a flag is depicted (or is manufactured) with its hoist to the observer’s right in accordance with Arabic tradition – but see sinister hoist and the note below (also hoist 1), obverse and reverse).

  National Flag of Qatar

  Please note that the Editors recommend use of the heraldic term as being more accurate and will avoid any potential confusion.

RIKSBANNER (or RIJKSVAANDEL)
  See coronation flags.

  Riksbanner/Coronation Flag, Norway 1906 (kongehuset.no)

RING
  1) On flags a charge in the form of a narrow circular band typically (but by no means exclusively) used to separate a sun’s central disc from its rays, as on the flag of Kyrgyzstan (as illustrated below) – a torus or disc/disk voided (see also disc and cartouche).
  2) In heraldry see annulet.
  3) A piece of wood or metal for attaching a windsock to its pole and for keeping it open (see also windsock).
  4) See battalion ring and battle honour.
  5) One of a number of circular metal bands used as an increasingly (but not entirely) obsolete method of attaching a military colour, parade flag or gonfalon to its staff – see colour 2), parade flag 2) with its following notes and gonfalon 2) (also loops and ties).

  National Flag of Kyrgyzstan; Flag of Bercher, Switzerland; Flag of the Kurdish Workers Party, Turkey

RISING
  1) In heraldry the term used when a bird is represented as in the act of taking flight – rousant (see also displayed, vol and volant.
  2) In vexillology the term often employed to describe a sun complete with its (usually – but not invariably – expanding) rays – a rising sun (see also rays and sunburst)

  Flag of Høylandet, Norway; Arms of Thames Valley Police Authority, UK; Flag of Nova Aurora, Brazil

RISING DIAGONAL
  See ascending diagonal.

  Flag of Franekeradeel, Netherlands

RISING FROM
  See issuant (also rising 1).

  Flag of Schinznach, Switzerland

RISING SUN
  See rising 2).

  Naval Ensign of Japan

RIVERWHEEL (or RIVERMILL WHEEL)
  See waterwheel.

  Arms and Flag of Fafe, Portugal

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