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# Dictionary of Vexillology: D (Dharma Chakra – Dipping)

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Last modified: 2026-05-08 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- DHARMA CHAKRA (or CHAKKRA)
- DHVAJA
- DIAGONAL BICOLOUR
- DIAGONAL (or DIAGONALLY-CENTRED) CROSS
- DIAGONAL DISPLAY DESIGN (or FLAG)
- DIAGONALLY DISPOSED/ORIENTATED CHARGES
- DIAGONAL MULTI-STRIPE
- DIAGONAL STRIPES
- DIAGONAL TRIBAND
- DIAGONAL TRICOLOUR
- DIAMOND (or DIAMOND SHAPE)
- DIAMOND-THROUGHOUT (or -OVERALL)
- DIFFERENCED (or DIFFERENCING)
- DIGITATE
- DIMENSIONS
- DIMIDIATED
- DIMIDIATION
- DINNER FLAG
- DIP, AT THE
- DIPLOMATIC FLAGS
- DIPPING

DHARMA CHAKRA (or CHAKKRA)
  See chakra.

  Commander in Chief of the Army (1938), Thailand

DHVAJA
  A triangular flag or pennant usually (but not invariably) containing seven red/orange over white horizontal stripes whose lower edge is traditionally set at right angles to the hoist, and symbolic of Hinduism (see also pavon, prayer flag, and religious flag).

  Dhvajas of the Hindus (Zeljko Heimer & CS)

  Notes
  a) "Dhvaja" is the Sanskrit word for “flag” and the examples shown above are flown on festivals and other special occasions to mark the victory of Sanatana Dharma, however, pennants dedicated to individual gods within the Hindu pantheon are also sometimes seen.
  b) The word is sometimes pronounced as d’vahjah, but other pronunciations exist.

DIAGONAL BICOLOUR
  See bicolour 1) (also triangular panel 2)).

  Flag of Lanzarote, Spain; House Flag of Dalen & Fraternitas, Sweden

DIAGONAL (or DIAGONALLY-CENTRED) CROSS
  See saltire.

  Flag of Pont-à-Celles, Belgium

DIAGONAL DISPLAY DESIGN
  See flag for slanted display.

  Flag of the Army For Slanted Display, Bolivia (fotw & CS)

DIAGONALLY DISPOSED/ORIENTATED CHARGES
  In heraldry see in bend and in bend sinister.

  Flag of Nidfurn, Switzerland; Flag of Bettenhausen, Switzerland; Flag of Luzein, Switzerland

DIAGONAL MULTI-STRIPE
  See multi-stripe.

  Flag of Friesland, Netherlands; Flag of Ommelanden, The Netherlands

DIAGONAL STRIPES
  In vexillology and heraldry see Appendix IX (also triband and tricolour).

  National Flag, The Congo; Flag of Algar, Spain; Flag of Cerrito, Brazil

DIAGONAL TRIBAND
  See triband 1) with its following note b) and Appendix IX (also triangular panel 2)).

  Flag of Itapejara d'Oeste, Brazil; Flag of Vale Real, Brazil; Flag of Varre-Sai, Brazil

DIAGONAL TRICOLOUR
  See tricolour 1) and its following notes d) and e) (also triangular panel 2)).

  Flag of Flor do Sertão, Brazil; Flag of Porto de Moz, Brazil; Flag of Lagoinha, Brazil

DIAMOND (or DIAMOND SHAPE)
  See lozenge 1).

  Flag of Mato Grosso, Brazil; Flag of Colniza, Brazil; Flag of Paranaguá, Brazil

DIAMOND-THROUGHOUT (or -OVERALL)
  See lozengethroughout.

  House Flags of Michael Jebsen & Co., Germany; Hollandscheveld, The Netherlands; Andresen Shipping Company, Portugal

DIFFERENCED (or DIFFERENCING)
  1) (v) On flags, to create a variation of another flag, either by changing one or more colours, or their sequence, and/or by adding or removing a charge. Usually done to indicate close cultural, historical, or geographic ties – see note a) below (also core flag, flag family, label 2) and template flag).
  2) In heraldry, see cadency, mark of and note c) below.
  3) See marks of difference 1).

  National flag of Russia; National Flag of Serbia 2004–2011; National Flag of Slovakia

  Notes
  a) As examples and with regard to 1), the flags of Italy and Bulgaria were differenced from those of France and of Russia by changing the blue stripes to green, whilst as further examples:
  b) The flag of Slovakia was differenced from the Russian tricolour by the addition of a charge, and that of Serbia by the reversal of its colour sequence – see pan-Slavic colours.
  c) Regarding 2), in heraldry the terms difference and differencing may not have exactly the same meaning, that these terms do not necessarily equate directly with cadency as shown above and that we therefore suggest a dictionary or glossary on heraldry should be consulted for further details.

DIGITATE
  See square-tongued.

  Flag of Venice, Italy

DIMENSIONS
  The actual measured size of a flag, or of a charge thereon, as opposed to its proportions (see also rectangle, specification, specification sheet).

DIMIDIATED
  (adj) The heraldic term for a charge or charges, such as animals, birds (particularly eagles) or fleur-de-lis, forming part of a coat of arms, or an entire coat of arms as defined herein, which are halved along the vertical centre line of a shield, banner of arms or a flag – but see conjoined and demi and the notes below (also coat of arms 2), entire 1) and impale).

  Flag of Nysa, Poland; Flag of Geneva, Switzerland; Flag of the Cinque Ports, UK

  Notes
  a) Where two sets of dimidiated arms or any elements thereof are set side by side in heraldic terms they are said to be ‘impaled by dimidiation’, and:
  b) whilst this is often the case, one dimidiated charge, or set of dimidiated arms, need not necessarily be set beside another so halved (as per the example shown above) – see entire 1) (also conjoined).

DIMIDIATION
  See dimidiated and following note above.

  Flag of Wodzisław Śląski, Poland

DINNER FLAG
  In US usage the practice, almost certainly obsolete, of flying a white flag from the starboard yardarm (or spreader) of a pleasure vessel when the owner is dining, and from the port yardarm when the crew are at meals – but see meal pennant (also guest on board flag, owner absent flag).

  Dinner Flag, US

DIP, AT THE
  (adj) The naval term for when a flag or pennant is flown in the half-mast position – see dipping 2) and its second note (also code pennant, close up and half mast).

  Please note that the usual protocol with regard to flying a flag in the half-mast position on land is not followed at sea.

DIPLOMATIC FLAGS
  Those distinguishing flags that are flown by the officers of a country’s diplomatic services (consular or ambassadorial) either ashore or afloat – an ambassadorial, ambassador’s, consul’s, consular or consular officer’s flag (see also distinguishing flag 1) and distinguishing jack.

  Ambassadors’ Flags – UK, Thailand and Gambia

  Please note that these flags are not generally flown outside embassies or consulates (although they may be), but are more usually seen ashore as car flags, within diplomatic premises and/or outside the residences of ambassadors or consuls, or they may be flown from the main masthead or a jack staff of a vessel carrying a diplomatic or consular officer when afloat (see also car flag, jack staff, main and masthead).

DIPPING
  1) On parade, a method of saluting with a flag in which the staff is lowered by inclining the staff forward then returning it to the original upright position, with the degree of such lowering being governed by national regulations or custom, and ranging from a slight inclination to dropping the head of the staff all the way to the ground or vailing (also colour 2), colours 2), parade flag, pike, staff 2) trailing 1) and trooping the colour). When multiple flags are carried, which (if any) are dipped in salute generally depends on the status of the person or entity being saluted, dipping customs vary widely, however, and in some countries, the national flag is never dipped, while in others it may be dipped in salute to a head of state or other specified high dignitaries.
  2) (v) At sea, a method of saluting with a flag whereby the ensign is lowered about one width from the truck of the ensign staff (or one-third the length of the halyard if flying at the gaff or yardarm) and then re-hoisted to its original position.
  3) See trailing.

  (trooping-the-colour.co.uk: 2008, 2024)

  Notes
  a) A warship will never dip its ensign to another vessel (whether warship or merchantman) but will invariably return the salute when offered by a merchant vessel – a courtesy that (whilst formerly given as a matter of course) is rarely seen today – and that that warships only return salutes from the ships of countries recognized by their own government. Saluting between warships not wearing the flag of a flag officer or a broad pennant is carried out by bosun's call or bugle, and when flag officers meet at sea they salute each other with the appropriate number of guns, although usually only by prior arrangement (see also flag of command, flag officer, gun salute and private ship).
  b) At sea a manoeuvring signal will be dipped by the flagship when it has been acknowledged, and signifies that the signal is to be executed, however, an answering or code pennant flown at the dip in response to a hoist from the flagship, indicates that the signal is not understood – an answering pennant flown close-up confirms that the signal has been received and understood (see also code pennant, close-up, dip, at the, hoist 2) and signal flag).

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