This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

# Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Banner Roll – Barry Wavy)

##

Last modified: 2026-05-02 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

- Introduction
- Table of Contents
- Index of Terms
- Previous Page
- Next Page

On this page:

- BANNER ROLL
- BANNER TOP
- BANNERET
- BANNERETTE (or BANERETTE)
- BANNERETUS
- BANNERHAUPT
- BANNERHEAD
- BANNERMAN
- BANNEROLE (or BANNEROL)
- BAR
- BAR CROSS
- BAR SINISTER
- BARBED
- BARGE FLAG
- BARGEMAN’S ASSOCIATION DISPLAY MAST
- BARGEMAN’S POLE
- BAROQUE CARTOUCHE
- BAROQUE SHIELD (or BAROQUE ORNAMENTED SHIELD/FRAME)
- BARRULET (BARRELET, BARRULY or BARRULLY)
- BARRULET (BARRELET, BARRULY or BRACELET) WAVY
- BARRY
- BARRY WAVY

BANNER ROLL
  An 18th century corruption, now obsolete, of the equally obsolete term bannerole).

  Please note, it is suggested by one source that this term could also apply to a roll or scroll depicting banners.

BANNER TOP
  See finial (also supplementary note).

  Please note that the Editors consider this term to be both contradictory and confusing, and suggest therefore, considerable caution before use.

BANNERET
  1) A term sometimes used to describe a miniature banner; this is often (but by no means invariably) straight-sided and triangular ended or swallow-tailed, is designed to be displayed vertically and usually shows emblems of either national and local significance (see also bannerette, emblem, general, table flag).
  2) A medieval term, now obsolete, for a knight entitled to lead men into battle – a knight banneret – whose armigerous lance pennon was square-ended, or for the group of knights so lead – a banneretus (see also banderium, lance pennon 1), pennoncier).

  Table Flag/Banneret of Čađavica, Croatia; Lance Pennon of Sir Robert Knolles. Knight Banneret c1360, England

BANNERETTE (or BANERETTE)
  1) A small ceremonial banner decorating a set of bagpipes, a drum or a trumpet – a drum banner, pipe banner or a trumpet banner or tabard (see also war banner).
  2) See banner 3.

  7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles, UK

BANNERETUS
  A medieval term, now obsolete, for a banneret (see banneret 2)).

BANNERHAUPT
  The German term for a bannerhead.

BANNERHEAD
  The term – and a direct translation of the German "Bannerhaupt" – sometimes used in German language vexillology – to describe the plain area of field that may appear at the head of a hanging flag or a banner and almost invariably bearing a civic or regional coat of arms (see also banner 2), hoisted flag).

  Hanging Flag of Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Banner of Ludwigshafen, Germany; Hanging Flag of Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany

BANNERMAN
  1) In largely Scottish usage a term, now obsolete, for one who bears a standard.
  2) An originally 17th century term, now obsolete, for a Chinese soldier belonging to one of the eight “banners” (or divisions) of the Manchu army (see also banner 7)).

BANNEROLE (or BANNEROL)
  The term, now obsolete, for a small flag (usually three feet – 91 cm – square) that displayed a single quartering from a deceased person’s coat of arms for use at that person’s funeral – a banner roll (see also achievement of arms 2), badge banner, banner of arms, canton 3), great banner, grumphion, quartering).

  Bannerole (or single quartering) from the Arms of the 4th Duke of Buccleuch d1687

  Please note – not be confused with banderole.

BAR
  1) The heraldic term for a straight, wavy (or otherwise decorated – for example a bar embattled as illustrated below) horizontal stripe that is rarely borne singly, and which in strict heraldic practice should occupy about one-fifth the width of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof – but see note b) below and compare with fess (also barrulet, barry, filet, quartering 1)).
  2) In vexillology see stripe(s).
  3) In UK military usage and in some others, the metal clasp which is added to a medal ribbon to indicate a second award of that same medal, or the battle, campaign or reason for its award.

  Flag of Chicago, US; Variant flag of Frogn, Norway; Flag of Santa Maria de Emeres, Portugal

  Notes
  a) In vexillology a fess and a bar are regarded as almost synonymous.
  b) With regard to 1), in strict heraldic usage there is a size difference between a bar and a fess (as listed herein), and that a fess should be confined to the centreline of the field, whereas a bar or bars need not.

BAR CROSS
  An accurate but seldom used translation (Balken meaning a "balk", "bar" or "beam" of wood) of the German term Balkenkreuz.

BAR SINISTER
  This term, supposedly indicating illegitimacy, is a nineteenth century invention – for the correct heraldic phrase see baton sinister.

BARBED
  1) The heraldic term used when describing the leaves that appear behind the petals of a rose – but see leaved, seeded and its following note (also garnished).
  2) A heraldic term also used to describe the metal point of an arrow or of a spear, particularly when these are of a different tincture – but see shafted (also hafted, hilted, rogacina).

  Flag of Yorkshire, UK; Flag of Dalecarlia, Sweden; Flag of Haguenau, France

  Please note that this term is sometimes (and incorrectly) also applied to the thorns found on the stem of a rose.

BARGE FLAG
  1) In UK usage, one of a number of varying flags (usually a banner of arms) which are flown from the ceremonial barges of London’s livery companies.
  2) See boat flag 3) and the note below.

  Barge Flag/Banner of Arms of The Worshipful Company of Fletchers, London UK

  Please note that in British RN and some other usage, the small boat carrying a vessel’s commander, or a flag officer, is called the captain’s, commodore’s or admiral’s "barge", but that any rank flag or ensign flown from it is invariably called a "boat flag", as referenced above.

BARGEMAN’S ASSOCIATION DISPLAY MAST
  See sailor's mast.

BARGEMAN’S POLE
  The representation of a wooden implement used by those manning inland, (largely) load-carrying barges.

  Flag of Rüdlingen, Switzerland; Flag of Mühlehorn, Switzerland

BAROQUE CARTOUCHE
  See cartouche.

  Flag and Arms of Labin, Croatia

BAROQUE SHIELD (or BAROQUE ORNAMENTED SHIELD/FRAME)
  The terms sometimes used to describe an elaborately designed shield of the post-medieval type – a baroque ornamented shield/frame – but see renaissance shield.

  Arms of Kemmern, Germany (Wikimedia); Flag of León, Spain; Arms of Kraftisried, Germany (Wikimedia)

  Please note that several of the terms describing a specific type of shield are still in the process of standardization, and that no consistent approach has thus far been identified.

BARRULET (BARRELET, BARRULY or BARRULLY)
  Alternative heraldic terms for a narrow horizontal stripe that is rarely borne singly, which is often to be seen as a barrulet wavy and which in strict heraldic practice should occupy one-quarter the width of a bar or about one-twentieth the width of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof – a barrelet, barrully or bracelet (see also barry, filet, wavy).

  Flag of Bismula, Portugal; Flag of Terradillos de Sedano, Spain; Flag of Winsen upon Aller, Germany

BARRULET (BARRELET, BARRULY or BRACELET) WAVY
  In heraldry see barrulet.

  Flag of Rheinwald, Switzerland

BARRY
  The heraldic term for the division of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof, into four or more usually (but not invariably) equal horizontal stripes in alternating tinctures – but see "barry wavy" (below) and multi-stripe (also banner of arms, bar, barrulet, bar, quartering 1)).

  Civil Ensign of Luxembourg Type A; Flag of Montmirail, France; Civil Ensign of Luxembourg Type B

BARRY WAVY
  The heraldic term used to describe a series of wavy stripes, often (but not invariably) in azure and argent to represent running water – but see "barry" (above).

  Flag of Zeeland, The Netherlands; Flag of Unterägeri, Switzerland; Flag of St Paul’s Bay, Malta

Introduction | Table of Contents | Index of Terms | Previous Page | Next Page