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# Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Shades of Tincture – Shuttle)

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Last modified: 2026-05-02 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- SHADES OF TINCTURE
- SHAFT
- SHAFTED
- SHAHADA
- SHAMROCK
- SHARIFIAN FLAG
- SHARK ALERT (or ALARM) FLAG (or PENNANT)
- SHARK'S TEETH
- SHEAF OF WHEAT (or OF ANOTHER CEREAL)
- SHEATHED
- SHEAVED BLOCK
- SHELL
- SHERIFF’S BANNER
- SHIELD
- SHIELD-SHAPED
- SHIELD LOZENGY
- SHIELD OF DAVID
- SHIFT COLOURS
- SHIFTED TO
- SHIFTED TOWARDS
- SHIPPING (or SHIPPING COMPANY) HOUSE FLAG (or PENNANT)
- SHIP’S CREST
- SHOULDER PATCH
- SHUTTLE

SHADES OF TINCTURE
  English heraldry, generally speaking, recognizes only one shade per colour, however, in practice and in Continental European heraldry, various different shades will be encountered for the primary tinctures – see tinctures and the note below.

  Sanguine and Murrey/Amaranth, Bleu Celeste

  Notes
  a) Gules may be divided into murrey/amaranth (dark red) or sanguine (blood red), whilst azure could also appear as bleu celeste (sky blue).
  b) There are, however, a number of variations not covered above, and we suggest that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted if further details are required.

SHAFT
  1) See shafted below.
  2) A term that is sometimes used in place of lance or staff, particularly when a cavalry guidon is being carried – but see lance and staff 2) (also guidon).

SHAFTED
  A heraldic term used when the wooden section of an arrow, lance or spear is of a different tincture to its head (and/or flights if appropriate) – but see arrow and barbed 2), (also garnished, hafted, hilted, rogacina).

  Flag of Střelice, Czechia; Flag of Santa Maria, Portugal; Flag of Pracejovice, Czechia

SHAHADA
  A term (meaning “testimony” or “approval” in Arabic) that refers to the Islamic statement of faith which appears on several Arab flags, and is usually seen thereon in its shortened form – La allah illa Allah (wa) Muhammed rasulu Allah – or “There is no Deity but God (and) Muhammed is God’s messenger” (see also takbir and zulfikar).

  Flag of the Asiri Regional Movement, Saudi Arabia; National Flag of Saudi Arabia; A Political Flag from Palestine

  Notes
  a) The full term reads Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad Rasulu Allah or "I bear witness that there is no Deity other than Allah and that Muhammad is his servant and Messenger".
  b) The use of a sacred text on the Saudi flag has resulted in many restrictions as to its use and appearance.

SHAMROCK
  In heraldry see trefoil.

  Ensign and burgee of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

SHARIFIAN FLAG
  An alternative term of the Arab Revolt Flag of 1917 – but see pan-Arab colours and the note below.

  Sharifian/Arab Revolt Flag 1917–20

  Please note that the name derives specifically from the title of Hussein bin Ali, who as Sharif of Mecca was leader of the Arab Revolt.

SHARK ALERT (or ALARM) FLAG (or PENNANT)
  See beach flag.

  Shark Alert Flags, Hong Kong and South Africa

SHARK'S TEETH
  See wolfteeth.

  Flag and Arms of Borovnice, Czechia

SHEAF OF WHEAT (or OF ANOTHER CEREAL)
  In heraldry see garbe).

  Flag and Arms of Fenais da Luz, Portugal

SHEATHED
  The term used when the cutting edge of a sword, dagger or other bladed weapon is concealed within its protective cover.

  Flag of Marly, Switzerland; National Emblem and Flag of Oman

SHEAVED BLOCK
  A nautical term for a pulley, the sheave being the revolving grooved wheel within the block and on which the halyard runs (see also Appendix I).

SHELL
  In heraldry see escallop.

  Flag of Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Spain

SHERIFF'S BANNER
  In English and Welsh Usage, a term for the armorial trumpet banner (or banners) used at the ceremonial installation of a county’s High Sheriff, and usually bearing his personal arms or those of his bailiwick – but see bannerette (also armigerous and coat of arms 1).

  Please note that in British Usage (including Scotland) a High Sheriff is now appointed as representing the monarch in all matters relating to the judiciary and to law and order.

SHIELD
  1) In heraldry the shield (varying in detail and based on an item of defensive armour) is the basic element of all armorial bearings, and forms the field upon which the main heraldic charges are displayed. It is always blazoned first, and is often shown alone – an escutcheon (see also Appendix IV, banner of arms, blazon, coat of arms).
  2) On flags as above, but the charge or charges displayed need not be heraldic in origin, and (and sometimes shown with weapons) is often said to symbolize a willingness to defend the country (see also French shield, Gothic shield with its following note, Italian shield, rectangular shield, round-bottomed shield 2), scalloped 2), Spanish-style shield and the note below plus triarched triangular shield).

  Flag of Čađavica, Croatia; Example (CS); Flag of Strahoninec, Croatia

  Notes
  a) In English heraldry the shape of a shield is generally considered unimportant, and is (in any case) subject to fashion, however,
  b) On flags (and in some systems of continental heraldry) this shape may be exactly specified.

SHIELD-SHAPED
  See ogival.

  Flag of France in a 14th century image

SHIELD LOZENGY
  See lozengy 1).

  Shield of the South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands; Lesser Arms of Bavaria, Germany

SHIELD OF DAVID
  See Magen David.

  National Flag of Israel

SHIFT COLOURS (or COLORS)
  (v) In US, UK and some other naval usage, the procedure whereby a warship’s ensign is struck from its staff at the stern and hoisted at the peak as a vessel gets underway – see peak 1) and its following notes (also gaff, ensign staff, naval ensign under ensign and strike).

  Please note that the practice began in the 18th century due to a change in the design of the mizzen gaff-sail which made the fitting of an ensign staff impractical whilst underway.

SHIFTED TO
  The term that should be used when an object (most usually a triangle) touches an outer edge (almost invariably the hoist edge) of a flag – see offset towards and its following note b).

  National Flag of Cuba

SHIFTED TOWARDS
  See offset towards and shifted to.

  Flag of Grande Comore, Comoros

SHIPPING (or SHIPPING COMPANY) HOUSE FLAG (or PENNANT)
  See house flag 1).

  House Flag of Altaras, Caune & Cie, France

SHIP’S CREST
  In British Royal Navy usage and in some others, a traditional term for the badge of an individual warship – see rope grommet (also badge 3), emblem, military and governmental/departmental and military crest).

  Flag showing the Ship’s Badge/Crest of HMS Gloucester 1975

SHOULDER PATCH
  See flag patch.

  Shoulder/Flag Patch of the Bolivian Navy 1966–2013

SHUTTLE
  See weaver's shuttle.

  Flag of Zetel, Germany

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