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# Dictionary of Vexillology: F (Flag Patch – Flags in Fiction)

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Last modified: 2026-05-16 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- Introduction
- Table of Contents
- Index of Terms
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On this page:

- FLAG PATCH
- FLAG PATRON
- FLAG PIN
- FLAG PLATE
- FLAG PLEDGE
- FLAG POLE (or FLAGPOLE)
- FLAG PROPOSAL
- FLAG PROTOCOL
- FLAG RANK
- FLAG RESEARCH
- FLAG SAIL
- FLAG SALUTE
- FLAG SIGNALS
- FLAG SLING
- FLAG SPREADER
- FLAG STAFF (or FLAGSTAFF)
- FLAG STATE
- FLAG STUDIES
- FLAG-TOSSING (THROWING or TWIRLING)
- FLAG-WAVING
- FLAGHEIGHT
- FLAGLET
- FLAGOID
- FLAGPOLE WIMPEL/PENNANT
- FLAGS
- FLAGS AND FUNNELS
- FLAGS AS VICTORY MARKINGS
- FLAGSHIP
- FLAGS IN FICTION

FLAG PATCH
  A small representation of a flag sewn or otherwise fixed onto an item of clothing, usually but not invariably on the upper sleeve, and often used by military personnel – a shoulder patch.

FLAG PATRON
  In largely Central European usage, a term for that person who provided funding for the production of a ceremonial flag, or is otherwise being honoured by the organization whose flag it is – but see consecration with its following note (also ceremonial flag 1)).

FLAG PIN
  See lapel flag 1).

  Flag pins (amazon.com/pinmart.com/pandaloco.co.uk)

FLAG PLATE
  1) A single illustration or series of illustrations (almost invariably coloured) on a single page (or pages) which is printed separately (for reasons of production cost) and inserted into an otherwise completed book of textual information (see also flag book and flag chart).
  2) A term that may be used to describe those rigid plates that may replace the equivalent signal flags in some European regulations for inland navigation.
  3) See rank plate.
  4) A term sometimes incorrectly used to describe a piece of tableware, often (but not invariably) produced by shipping companies, that bears the illustration of a flag.

FLAG PLEDGE
  See flag salute.

FLAG POLE (or FLAGPOLE)
  The post of wood, metal or a synthetic material upon which a flag is hoisted by means of a halyard – a flag mast or flag staff, but see outrigger pole (also cone tapered, finial, venetian entasis taper, truck).

  Please note however, that the terms flag staff, flag mast and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and staff when used alone have specific meanings (see also mast 1), staff 1), staff 2)).

FLAG PROPOSAL
  The term which covers any flag suggested as an alternative to a design currently used, or one of those designs from which the choice of a new flag is to be made, or for a design that has been so proposed in the past but never accepted, (see also ausflag and flag design competition).

  Proposal for a New Flag of Minnesota, 2002, USA; Proposal for a National Flag of Portugal, 1910; Proposal for a National Flag of Australia, 2015

FLAG PROTOCOL
  See flag etiquette (also Appendix II).

FLAG RANK
  See flag officer and its following note.

  Rear Admiral (Upper Half), Vice Admiral and Admiral, South Korea

FLAG RESEARCH
  See vexillology.

FLAG SAIL
  A term for the occasional practice of creating (or illustrating) a sail in the form of an appropriate national (or possibly provincial) flag or ensign (see also armorial sail).

  The National Flag of Canada as a square sail (Željko Heimer)

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

FLAG SALUTE
  1) An oath of allegiance through a ceremony involving the national flag – flag pledge. Flag salutes are required of military personnel in most countries, but when done by civilians, it is usually (but not invariably) out of custom.
  2) A term also sometimes used to indicate a salute made with a flag – as in for example – a merchant vessel dipping its flag to a warship.
  3) See salute to the flag.

FLAG SIGNALS
  See signal hoist.

  US4 (Uniform-Sierra-4) in the International Code of Signal Flags (and numeric) or "Nothing can be done until the weather moderates"

FLAG SLING
  See flag belt.

  Flag Sling/Belt (According to Spanish Regulations Reglamento de Banderas y Estandartes, Guiones, Insignias y Distintivos > Regla no. 12)

FLAG SPREADER
  In largely (but not exclusively) US usage a metal implement designed to ensure that an indoor flag is properly displayed when hung from a vertical, freestanding pole (see also tangle rod).

  (gettysburgflag.com)

FLAG STAFF (or FLAGSTAFF)
  See flagpole (also mast 1), staff 1), and staff 2)).

  Please note that the terms flagstaff, flag mast and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and staff when used alone have specific meanings.

FLAG STATE
  The country in which a vessel or aircraft is registered, documented or licensed, and whose flag it is entitled to display.

FLAG STUDIES
  See vexillology.

FLAG-TOSSING (THROWING or TWIRLING)
  A sport and folk custom, particularly of Italy and Switzerland, in which flags are twirled and tossed in the air – a survival and extension of the standard 17th century military practice of postures (also palio).

  Please note that an (as far is known) unrelated local ceremony of flourishing flags, called casting the colours, occurs annually in Selkirk, Scotland.

FLAG-WAVING
  Use of the national flag, literally or figuratively to justify actions or principles, or to excite patriotic fervour.

FLAGHEIGHT
  See width 1).

FLAGLET
  The term sometimes used to describe a miniature flag – but see car flag, handwaver, table flag.

  Please note that the Editors consider this term too generic to be useful, and that the more precise descriptions given above are to be preferred in description.

FLAGOID
  A term that may be used to describe the illustration of a flag, or of a flag-like object, which is not intended to represent any flag in actual use, but which has the backing of some credible source and/or which employs a widely recognized emblem as part of its design – but see fictional flag and fictitious flag.

  The Arms of Hidalgo, Mexico

  Please note that an example would be the official coat of arms of the Mexican province of Hidalgo (as illustrated above), which includes the national flag of Mexico and a flagoid (a non-existent blue rectangular version of the Guadeloupe processional banner known to have been in use c1810).

FLAGPOLE WIMPEL/PENNANT
  A direct translation of the Dutch term vlaggestokwimpel) – see wimpel 1) and wimpel 2) (also pennant).

  Royal Wimpel, The Netherlands

FLAGS
  1) In US naval usage, a traditional nickname for signalmen whose duties include the display and care of signal flags and ensigns – but see bunting tosser (also flag bag, yeoman of signals).
  2) In British Royal Navy and some other usage, a traditional nickname for the flag lieutenant.

FLAGS AND FUNNELS
  The phrase used to describe an illustrated list of distinguishing flags or pennants as detailed in house flag 1), and the sometimes matching funnel liveries shown by ships of that company.

  Funnels and House Flags: Luigi Pittaluga 1940, Italy (CS); Hawkes Bay H.B. 1986, New Zealand (CS); James Deane and Co., Australia 1885 (CS)

FLAGS AS VICTORY MARKINGS
  See victory markings).

  An Aircraft of WWII showing Victory Markings (wearethemighty.com)

FLAGSHIP
  A naval vessel flying the flag of a flag officer (see also flag captain, flag lieutenant, flag of command 1)).

  HMS Iron Duke (Wikipedia) wearing the Flag of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe 1915, UK; Sir John’s Command Flag

  Please note that in British RN and some other usages, a naval vessel in commission which could, but does not carry an officer described above is termed a private ship (see also command pennant, masthead pennant 1), private ship).

FLAGS IN FICTION
  See fictional flag and fictitious flag.

  Flag of San Carlo from the film Princess Protection Program; Spurious Soviet Naval Flag from the film K19

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