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# Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cramp – Cypher)

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Last modified: 2026-05-16 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- CRAMP
- CRANCELIN
- CRAVAT
- CRENELLATED
- CRENELLED (or CRENELLÉ)
- CRENELS (or CRENELLES)
- CRESCENT
- CREST
- CRESTED (or CREST)
- CREW’S MEAL PENNANT
- CRINED
- CROATIAN WATTLE
- CROSSES (on separate pages):
  - CROOKED CROSS
  - CROSS
  - CROSS-CANTONÉE (or CANTONED)
  - CROSS-CLECHÉE
  - CROSS-COUPED
  - CROSS-FUSILLY
  - CROSS-LOZENGY
  - CROSS-VOIDED
  - CROSS BAR (CROSS-BAR or CROSSBAR)
  - CROSS BOTONNY (BOTTONNY or BOTTONÉE)
  - CROSS COUNTERCHANGED
  - CROSS CROSSLET
  - CROSS EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)
  - CROSS FITCHY
  - CROSS FIXED
  - CROSS FLEURY (FLORY, FLORETTY OR FLEURONNY)
  - CROSS FORMÉE, (FORMÉ or FORMY)
  - CROSS GYRONNY
  - CROSS HUMETTY
  - CROSS MALTESE
  - CROSS MOLINE
  - CROSS OF ANJOU
  - CROSS OF AVIS
  - CROSS OF CALATRAVA
  - CROSS OF CALVARY (or CROSS OF CRUCIFIXION)
  - CROSS OF LORRAINE
  - CROSS OF ST ANDREW
  - CROSS OF ST ANTHONY
  - CROSS OF ST GEORGE
  - CROSS OF ST JAMES
  - CROSS OF ST PATRICK
  - CROSS OF SANTIAGO
  - CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF CHRIST (CROSS OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST or CROSS OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST’S KNIGHTS)
  - CROSS OF THE PORTUGUESE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
  - CROSS PATRIARCHAL
  - CROSS PATTÉE (PATÉE, PATTY or PATY)
  - CROSS POTENT (or POTENCE)
  - CROSS POTENT REBATED
  - CROSS QUARTER-PIERCED
  - CROSS RAGULY
  - CROSS TAU
  - CROSS THROUGHOUT
  - CROSS TREFOIL (or TREFLEE)
  - CROSSED BRANCHES
  - CROSSTREE
- CROWN
- CROWN COLOURS (or COLORS)
- CROWN OF ARMS
- CROWN OF LEAVES
- CROWN OF RUE
- CROWN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
- CROWN TRIUMPHAL
- CROWNED
- CROZIER
- CRUCIFEROUS
- CRUTCH
- CRUTCH CROSS
- CUSTOMS FLAG (ENSIGN or PENNANT)
- CYBERVEXILLOLOGY (or CYBERVEX)
- CYPHER

CRAMP (CRAMPON, CRAMPOON or CRAMP-IRON)
  Heraldic terms used for bent pieces of metal employed in the strengthening of a building – crampon, crampoon or cramp-iron – but see the note below and angle iron, wolf-trap.

  Flag of Welschenrohr-Gänsbrunnen; Flag of Gerlafingen; Flag of Biberist, Switzerland

  Please note that, although there is a reported difference in appearance (and of course function) between a cramp and the parts of some wolf/man traps, they can look very similar (if not identical) and are thus easily confused, so in its illustrations for the two terms this dictionary can only be guided by published descriptions.

CRANCELIN
  The alternative heraldic term for a crown of rue.

  Arms of Saxony, Germany; Royal Standard of the Kingdom of Saxony 1815–1918

CRAVAT
  1) A decorative scarf, usually in national or livery colours and often richly decorated, generally tied with a bow to the staff below the finial, normally (but by no means exclusively) used with military flags and sometimes displayed with a cockade (see also cockade 1), cord(s) 1), draping, national colours 2), staff 2)).
  2) Long black ribbons tied to the staff of a military colour below the finial to signify mourning by the regiment or unit concerned for the loss of members of that regiment, or when participating in a military or state funeral – but see draping.

  Presidential Standard, France 1940–1943 (fotw & CS); National Flag of Mexico

  Please note with regard to 1) that in French military usage, and possibly in others, the cravat is employed (including use with car flags) to differentiate between ranks and functions (see also fanion 3), jack of honour, lanyard 1) and lanyard pennant.

CRENELLATED
  In vexillology, a term that is sometimes used to describe the battlements of a tower, castle or wall in place of its heraldic equivalents – see embattled.

  Flag of Judeţul Cahul 1998–2003, Moldova

CRENELLED (or CRENELLÉ)
  Alternative heraldic term to embattled.

  Arms and Flag of Pyskowice, Poland

CRENELS (or CRENELLES)
  The embrasures seen between the upwardly projecting parts of a castles crenelations – see merlins (also battlements with its following note and embattled).

  Flag of Bielefeld, Germany

CRESCENT
  1) In vexillology, a charge in the shape of a crescent moon formed by two interlinked circles of varying size, generally (but not invariably) shown with the open horns towards the fly – a quarter-moon (see also disc and waning or waxing moon).
  2) In heraldry a charge in the form of a crescent moon whose horns unless otherwise specified point upwards – but see moon 2) with following notes, and the note b) below (also lunel).

  Flag of the Emirate of Ha'il 1835–1920; Former Flag of Obdam, The Netherlands; Flag of Odèn, Spain

  Notes
  a) With regard to 1) the crescent is often (but not invariably) considered to be symbolic of Islam.
  b) Regarding 2) a crescent whose horns point downward (as illustrated above) may be termed inverted or reversed – see reversed 2).

CREST
  1) The heraldic term for a symbol that is usually (but not invariably) attached to the helm, is almost always set above a torse and generally ensigned over the shield (see also Appendix IV, armorial bearings, coat of arms, ensigned, wreath 2)).
  2) See "crested" (below)
  3) See ship’s crest.
  4) See military crest.
  5) The term is sometimes used to describe a shield or set of armorial bearing – but see note below.

  Arms of Josipdol, Croatia; Ship's crest of HMS Sovereign (Wikipedia); State Military Crest of New Mexico, US

  Please note that the term "crest" should only be used as specifically defined in 1), 2), 3) and 4) above, and should not be considered as a synonym for a coat of arms or set of armorial bearings (see also armorial bearings and coat of arms).

CRESTED (or CREST)
  A heraldic term that is applicable to all birds with some sort of head decoration, it is, however, mainly applied to roosters – but see comb(ed) (also crest 1) above).

  Flag of Cutterwil, Switzerland

CREW’S MEAL PENNANT
  See meal pennant.

  Crew’s Meal Pennant, US

CRINED
  In heraldry the term used when referring to the hair on a person's head, or to the mane of a horse when of another tincture.

  Arms of Portsmouth, England; Flag of Chermignon, Switzerland; Arms of Boston Borough Council, England

CROATIAN WATTLE
  See wattle(d) 1)

  Flag of Ustasha Youth 1941–1945, Croatia

CROWN
  1) A ceremonial headpiece consisting of a circlet (almost invariably) made of precious metal and adorned with pearls/gemstones – a royal crown, royal crown closed or closed royal crown – see note a) below (also coronet 1), coronet 2), orb and sceptre).
  2) A variously detailed charge symbolizing the status or identity of a particular institution or organization (see also astral crown, crown of arms, civic crown 2), mural crown 1), provincial crown, naval crown, leafy crown).
  3) In heraldry see antique crown 2), civic crown 1), crown triumphal, ensigned, mural crown 2) and note b) below.

  Royal Crowns, Denmark, England and Spain (Wikimedia)

  Notes
  a) With regard to 1), a crown with a curved bar or bars across the top and a cap within generally (but not invariably) signifies a reigning monarch, however, the actual design will usually be specific to a given country and considerable variations exist.
  b) Regarding 3), in heraldry the term "crown" has a wider use than those referenced above, and it is suggested that a specialist glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted for full details.

CROWN COLOURS (or COLORS)
  A translation of the Spanish term Banderas Coronelas and referring to a Queen’s, King’s or Imperial Colour – see colour 2) and colours 2).

  Crown/King’s Colour of the Royal Infantry Guard 1794, Spain; Crown/Queen’s Colour of the Regiment of Chasseurs Isabel II 1841–1844, Spain

CROWN OF ARMS
  A newly introduced term – and a translation of the German Wappenkrone – that may be used to describe the type of crown which is created from a series related arms, and possibly inspired by the pavisade (see also coat of arms 2), hamburgian coronet, leafy crown, mural crown 1), provincial crown 2)).

  Middle Arms and State Flag of Baden-Württemberg, Germany

CROWN OF LEAVES
See leafy crown.

Arms of Bruckneudorf, Austria

CROWN OF RUE
  The heraldic term for a coronet, placed in bend – or diagonally – across rather than above a shield or quarter – a crancelin (see also bend, shield 1)).

  Flag of Saxony, Germany; Royal Standard of the Kingdom of Saxony 1815–1918; Flag of Land Hadeln, Germany

CROWN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
  In Christian, particularly Iberian tradition, the term for a crown bearing a dove set on its central point (see also marian crown and its following note).

  Flag of Ilha, Portugal; Arms of Santo Espírito, Portugal; Flag of Feteira, Portugal

CROWN TRIUMPHAL
  The heraldic term for a closed garland or chaplet, usually composed of laurel leaves, and based on the ancient Roman triumphal ornament (see also civic crown 2), decking, wreath of immortelles).

  (Parker)

CROWNED
  In heraldry see ensigned (also crown).

  Lesser Arms and Grand-Ducal Standard of Luxembourg

CROZIER
  In some Christian usages the ceremonial staff of a prelate – a bishop or archbishop’s crook or pastoral staff (see also mitre, pilgrim's staff, stringed).

  Flag of Schmitten, Switzerland; Flag of Tholey, Germany; Flag of Wangen, Switzerland

CRUCIFEROUS
  The term, and a translation from the Portuguese, that is used in largely South European heraldry when a charge (such as an orb or crown) is ensigned with a cross.

  Flag of Vila Nova do Campo, Portugal; Historical flag of Szamosújvár, Kingdom of Hungary; Flag of São Salvador do Campo, Portugal

CRUTCH
  1) On flags a term for the central point at which the two triangles formed by a swallow-tailed cut in the fly meet (see also orthogonal, palm).
  2) In heraldry see potent 2).

  Naval Ensign of Germany; Arms of Montalegre, Portugal; State Ensign of Lower Saxony, Germany

CRUTCH CROSS
  A translation of the German term Kruckenkreuz/Krückenkreuz – in heraldry see cross potent.

  A flag of the Christian Falangist Party, Germany

CUSTOMS FLAG (ENSIGN, JACK or PENNANT)
  A flag or ensign, different from the national/state flag or government ensign or a pennant, which specifically identifies the installations or vessels of a country’s customs service (see also ‘government ensign’ and ‘service ensign’ under ensign, and state flag).

  Customs Flag/Jack, Israel; Customs Flag, Sudan; Customs Flag, Cambodia

CYBERVEXILLOLOGY (or CYBERVEX)
  Vexillological research and/or the publication of vexillological information using electronic means, particularly the Internet or other electronic delivery systems.

CYPHER
  See royal cypher 1) and monogram.

  Cypher of the French Republic (CS)

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