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

# Dictionary of Vexillology: T (Tribal Flag – Triskelion)

##

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:

- TRIBAL FLAG
- TRIBAND (or TRI-BAND)
- TRIBAR (or TRI-BAR)
- TRICOLORE, LA
- TRICOLORE, LE
- TRICOLOUR, (TRICOLOR, TRI-COLOUR or TRI-COLOR)
- TRICOLOUR PENDANT (or PENNANT)
- TRIDENT
- TRIMMED
- TRINACRIA
- TRINITARIAN CROSS
- TRINITY EYE
- TRIPARTITE (TRIPARTED or TRIPLE-PARTED)
- TRIPLE-ARMED (or TRIPLE) CROSS
- TRIPLE-FIMBRIATED
- TRIPLE MOUNT (or TRIPLE-MOUNTED)
- TRIPLE-PRINCE
- TRIPLE-SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)
- TRIPLE-TAILED (or TRIPLE-TONGUED)
- TRIPLE-TAILED DESCATE
- TRIPPANT
- TRISKELION (TRISKELE)

TRIBAL FLAG
  The sub-national flag of any group which shares an ethnic origin, but which is not internationally recognized as independent – but see the notes below plus national flag 2) and political flag 1).

  Flag of Maori Tribe, New Zealand; Flag of the Arapaho Nation, US; Flag of the Mohawk Nation, US

  Notes
  a) Tribal flags may also be political flags under certain circumstances,
  b) Some tribal flags may be considered as national flags dependent upon the legal status and/or ambitions of the tribal group concerned (see also flag of a separatist movement).

  The Aboriginals, a National Flag of Australia under the Law

TRIBAND (or TRI-BAND)
  1) A flag of three (usually) parallel stripes or bands but using only two colours. These stripes may be disposed vertically, horizontally or diagonally (but see note b) below), be of equal or unequal width and be either defaced or plain – a three-striped flag or tiercé (see also bar, fess, pale, plain 2), stripe, striped, tiercé, tricolour, unequal triband with its following note and width 2)).
  2) An undefaced flag with three equal parallel stripes or bands using two colours whether disposed vertically or horizontally – a simple triband (see also undefaced).

  Flag of Carpena, Brazil; Flag of Lika-Senj, Croatia; Flag of Cruzaltense, Brazil

  Notes:
  a) The Editors have drawn a distinction between flags with three stripes and three colours and those having three stripes but only two colours, with the definitions for tricolour and triband having been carefully drawn up using all available sources.
  b) With regard to diagonals, the orientation of its central stripe can be critical to this definition – if the charge in question runs directly into the corners then it should be considered as a plain flag bearing a diagonal stripe (as per the example illustrated below), if however, the central stripe has its entire width along either the top and bottom edges and/or along the hoist and fly then the term "diagonal triband" may be used in description – see north-south diagonal 1) and its references.

  Flag of Araruna, Brazil

TRIBAR (or TRI-BAR)
  A term sometimes applied to a flag of three stripes in two colours – but see triband and the note below.

  Please note however, before using this term it is suggested that the entry on bar and/or a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted.

TRICOLORE, LA
  The national flag, civil ensign and naval ensign of Italy – see tricolour 1) and tricolour 2) (also ropework border).

  National Flag, Civil Ensign and Naval Ensign of Italy

TRICOLORE, LE
  The national flag and National Ensign of France, see tricolour 1) and tricolour 2).

  National Flags of France for use on land and at sea

TRICOLOUR (TRICOLOR, TRI-COLOUR or TRI-COLOR)
  1) A flag of three (usually) parallel stripes or bands in three different colours. These stripes may be disposed vertically, horizontally or diagonally, be of equal or unequal width and be either defaced or plain – a three-striped flag or tiercé – but see horizontal bicolour with vertical stripe at hoist (also deface, plain 2), stripe, striped, triband, unequal triband and width 2)).
  2) An undefaced flag with three equal parallel stripes or bands of different colours whether disposed vertically or horizontally – a simple tricolour – but see note b) below (also undefaced and princeflag).

  Flag of Chaguarpamba, Ecuador; Flag of Nova Friburgo Brazil; Flag of Aguiarnópolis, Brazil

  Notes:
  a) The Editors have drawn a distinction between flags with three stripes and three colours, and those consisting of three stripes but only two colours, with the definitions for tricolour and triband having been carefully drawn up using all available sources, however this distinction is not always observed (see also triband 3)).
  b) With regard to 2), several national flags, for example those of France and Italy, are referred to as a "tricolour" in their respective languages and fall into this category, however:
  c) A flag of five stripes and three colours, such as that of Thailand (which does not come under this definition) is also so called – but see multi-stripe.
  d) With regard to diagonal tricolours, the orientation of its central stripe can be critical to this definition – if the charge in question runs directly into the corners then it can (and perhaps should, but often is not) be considered a flag bearing a diagonal stripe stripe rather than a tricolour, if however:
  e) The central stripe has its entire width along either the top and bottom edges and/or along the hoist and fly then the term "diagonal tricolour" may be used in description (as per the examples illustrated below) – but for more precise/accurate definitions see east-west diagonal and its references.

  Flag of Roraima, Brazil; Flag of Pinhal Grande, Brazil

TRICOLOUR PENDANT (or PENNANT)
  See common pendant.

  The Tricolour/Common Pendant, England, then UK 1661–c1850

TRIDENT
  A three-pronged fishing spear which came to represent dominance over the sea from the ancient world onward, and was a gladiatorial weapon.

  Flag of Oostzaan, Netherlands; Arms/Fin Flash of Ukraine; Flag of Arcozelo, Portugal

TRIMMED
  1) When the border of a charge, or of a flag, is embellished in a contrasting or complementary colour – see fringe.
  2) In heraldry see garnished.

  Flag of Soengas, Portugal; President's Colour of Air Force, India

TRINACRIA
  See triskelion.

  Flag of Eagum, Netherlands

TRINITARIAN CROSS
  A term that is used to describe the (layered) cross of the Catholic Order of the Holy Trinity in which a blue horizontal arm is overlaid by a red vertical. (see also layered cross and layered saltire).

  Flag of the Trinitarian Order

TRINITY EYE
  See Eye of God.

  Flag and Arms of Radzymin Poland

TRIPARTITE (TRIPARTED or TRIPLE-PARTED)
  Alternative terms for a charge, particularly (but not exclusively) a cross or saltire, that is divided longitudinally into three parts in three different colours, as in the flag of Dominica – triparted or triple-parted (see also cross 3), layered cross, layered saltire).

  National Flag of Dominica; Flag of Guatavita, Colombia

TRIPLE-ARMED (or TRIPLE) CROSS
  1) See papal cross
  2) See orthodox cross.

TRIPLE-MOUNT (or TRIPLE-MOUNTED)
  In heraldry see coupeau (also mount).

  Arms and Flag of Canedo, Portugal

TRIPLE-FIMBRIATED
  See cotticed 1) and following note (also fimbriated).

  Examples

TRIPLE-PRINCE
  The term for a 17th century Dutch naval flag of usually (but not invariably) nine even, horizontal stripes in the Dutch national colours repeated – but see double-prince (also dreikleur and princeflag).

  Triple Prince c1660; with Eleven Stripes c1660

  Please note however, whilst all available evidence suggests that red, white and blue were employed, orange instead of red may have been used at an earlier stage.

TRIPLE-SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)
  A term sometimes mistakenly used in place of swallowtail and tongue or triple-tailed – see swallow-tail and tongue and triple-tailed 1).

TRIPLE-TAILED (or TRIPLE-TONGUED)
  1) Terms that should be used when a flag has three tails or tongues whose width and lengths are of equal dimensions – but see triangular tongued (also length 2), width 2)).
  2) See swallow-tail and tongue 1).

  Naval Ensign of Estonia; Flag of Čechy, Slovakia; State Flag/Naval Ensign of Sweden

TRIPLE-TAILED DESCATE
  (adj) A term used to describe a fly that is cut into three tails with rounded ends (see also double-tailed descate, fly, gonfanon, guidon 2), standard 4), swallowtail, swallowtail and tongue, tongue(s)).

  Example

TRIPPANT
  The heraldic term used when a beast of the chase (a stag, hart, buck, etc.) is depicted walking on all four hooves, or with one hoof raised, and generally towards the dexter – but see passant with the note below, paissant, rearing, statant.

  Flag of Lend, Austria; Arms of Łuków County, Poland; Flag of Rzepin, Poland

  Please note that this term is often misapplied, and that whilst all animals thus depicted may be blazoned "passant" (as referenced above), "trippant" should be restricted to beasts of the chase.

TRISKELION (TRISKELE)
  An originally mystical sign of ancient origin that consists of three symbols emanating from a central point, and of which the three-legged symbols on the flags of the Islands of Man and Sicily (for example) are almost certainly an adaptation – a trinacria or triskele.

  Flag of Sicily; Symbol from Celtic art (source); Flag of the Isle of Man, UK

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