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# Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cord – Corsair Ensign)

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Last modified: 2026-05-09 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- CORD
- CORDED (or CORDONED)
- CORDED CROSS
- CORDS AND TASSELS
- CORE FLAG
- CORNET (or CORNETTE or CORNUTE)
- CORNSHEAF
- CORNUCOPIA
- CORONATION FLAGS (or CORONATION BANNERS)
- CORONET
- CORPORATE FLAG (or PENNANT)
- CORPORATE LOGO
- CORPORATION (or CORPORATE) BANNER
- CORPS FLAG
- CORSAIR
- CORSAIR ENSIGN

CORD
  1) In heraldry see "corded" (below).
  2) A length of decorative string or rope made from several twisted strands with tassels at each end, generally made of silk (or a silk-like material) in the livery colours or national colours (or gold/silver thread), simply knotted or tied a bow at the centre and used to decorate a staff (usually) just below the finial – especially (but not exclusively) that of a parade flag or military colour aiguillette, (see also colour 2), cravat 1), lanyard 1), national colours 2), parade flag 2), staff 2)).
  3) As above but without tassels and used to finish the edges of a flag, usually in the livery or national colours (or gold/silver thread).

  Flag of Vilar de Peregrinos, Portugal; Ceremonial Flag of Abedim-Moncao, Portugal; Flag of Vale de Afonsinho, Portugal

CORDED (or CORDONED)
  The heraldic term used to describe almost any charge bound with, or having, cords in a different tincture – but see the note below and stringed (also bugle horn, crozier, garnished, mitre).

  Arms of São Clemente de Basto, Portugal; Former arms of Cerdedo, Portugal; Arms of São Julião de Palácios e Deilão, Portugal

  Please note that cord and corded are established heraldic terms, but to extend the word into "cordoned" is, as far as can be discovered, not.

CORDED CROSS
  See roped cross.

  (Seiyaku.com)

CORDS AND TASSELS
  See cord 2) and tassels.

  Ceremonial Flag of Abedim-Moncao (detail), Portugal (fisisco)

CORE FLAG
  The flag whose design forms the basis of other flags, or which inspired the creation of other flags, with typical examples being the Arab revolt flag of 1917 plus the French and Russian tricolours (see also difference 1), flag family, pan-African Colours, pan-Arab Colours, pan-Slavic Colours and template flag).

  Russian Tricolour, French Tricolour, Arab Revolt Flag 1917

CORNET (or CORNETTE or CORNUTE)
  1) In largely British maritime usage a term, now increasingly obsolete, for a small triangular pennant (see also pennant 2)).
  2) In British RN and some other usage a term, now almost wholly obsolete, for a swallow-tailed flag, particularly (but not exclusively) a signal flag (see also signal flag and swallow-tail(ed)).
  3) Alternative 17th/18th century generic terms, now obsolete, referring to any small, swallow-tailed flag.
  4) Alternative forms of ‘guidon’, now obsolete, as being the distinguishing flag of a cavalry regiment (see also guidon 2)).
  5) A term, now obsolete, for lowest commissioned rank in the cavalry regiments of some countries (including those of the UK), being that rank responsible for carrying the regiment’s cornet or guidon.

  Cornette/Pennant of a Senior Officer/Commodore, Austria then Austria-Hungary 1786–1894; "Preceding Under Steam and Sail" in The Commercial Code of Signals c1860

CORNSHEAF
  In heraldry see garbe.

  Flag and Arms of Reduzum, The Netherlands (fotw & Wikimedia)

CORNUCOPIA
  An ancient symbol of prosperity and now generally shown as a hollow, horn-shaped basket usually (but not invariably) filled to overflowing with various kinds of festive fruit and/or vegetables etc – a horn of plenty.

  Flag of Nonnenhorn, Germany; National Arms of Honduras; Flag of Ivankovo, Croatia

CORONATION FLAGS (or CORONATION BANNERS)
  A term for those flags or banners (differing from the usual royal standard) which are prepared specifically for display at the installation (coronation, swearing-in or simple inauguration) of a monarch and often (but not exclusively) consisting of the relevant royal or national arms on a plain field – a "rijksvaandel", riksbanner, royal banner or banner of the realm (see also greater arms under arms, installation flags, royal standard 1)).

  Coronation Flags (riksbanner), Norway 1906 and 1818 (official website); Flag of Croatia for the Coronation of Ferdinand V in Bratislava 1830

CORONET
  1) Generically on flags, a crown without a curved bar across the top that may be seen in a wide variety of shapes and circumstances – an open crown or open royal crown (see also antique crown, civic crown, mural crown, naval crown, provincial crown).
  2) Specifically on flags, the term may be used when a hereditary ruler (or former hereditary ruler) is of a lesser rank than that of crowned monarch – a princely, arch-ducal or grand-ducal coronet (see also electoral cap).
  3) In English heraldry a crown without cross bar across the top as 1) above, but also a symbol of nobility whose exact design is dependent upon the rank of the person concerned (see also mantle).

  Flag of Nacimiento, Spain; Coronet of a Duke in English heraldry (Wikipedia); Flag of Vranov, Czechia

  Please note that the use of a cross-bar across the top to indicate royal status and to differentiate between a crown and a coronet is of comparatively recent date (in English usage from the reign of King Henry VII, 1485–1509).

CORPORATE FLAG
  The distinguishing flag of a shore-based commercial concern as opposed to that of merchant marine company – a commercial flag/pennant (see also house flag 1) and logo).

  Flag of HSBC, UK; Flag of Citroën, France; Flag of Avis, US

CORPORATE LOGO
  See logo.

  Flag of Pan American Airways, US

CORPORATION (or CORPORATE) BANNER
  In largely UK usage, a type of processional banner whose symbolism relates to the corporate body of a town council or corporation, or to the community represented – see banner 3).

CORPS FLAG
  1) See camp flag.
  2) See branch of service flag 2).

  Corps/Camp Flag of the Royal Armoured Corps, UK (Graham Bartram); Flag of the Corps of Engineers, US

CORSAIR
  See jolly roger 1) and privateer(s).

  Flag of Edward Lowe, Early 18th century

CORSAIR ENSIGN
  See privateer ensign and jolly roger 1).

  Corsair/Privateer Ensign, Spain 1820

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