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# Dictionary of Vexillology: E (E Cross – Emphasized)

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Last modified: 2026-05-16 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- E CROSS
- EAGLE
- EAGLE CANTON FLAG
- EAGLE STANDARD
- EAST-WEST DIAGONAL
- ECCLESIASTIC (or ECCLESIASTICAL) BANNER
- ECCLESIASTIC (or ECCLESIASTICAL) FLAG
- EDGING (or EDGED)
- EFFAROUCHÉ (or EFFAROUCHED)
- EFFICIENCY (or E) PENNANT
- EGYPTIAN CROSS
- ELABORATE/ELABORATED FLEUR-DE-LIS
- ELECTORAL CAP (or BONNET)
- EMBATTLED (or EMBATTLEMENT)
- EMBATTLED BRETESSÉ
- EMBATTLED-COUNTER-EMBATTLED
- EMBATTLED FOURCHÉ (or EMBATTLED PER CHEVRON INVERTED)
- EMBLAZON
- EMBLEM
  - Emblem, Military or Governmental/Departmental
  - Emblem, State, National, Presidential, Provincial or Royal
- EMBOWED
- EMBRACED
- EMBROIDER
- EMPALE
- EMPHASIZED

‘E’ CROSS
  See two-and-a-half armed cross.

  Alternative Flag and Arms of Jabłonna, Poland

EAGLE
  1) The vexilloid carried as a main standard by ancient Roman legions – the aquila (see also aquilifer, signum 1), standard 4), vexillary and vexilloid 2)).
  2) The name given to a French military colour whose staff displayed a finial in the form of a gilded eagle, used during the Napoleonic era and later Second Empire and based on the eagles of ancient Rome (see 1) above, and also colour 2)).
  3) In (particularly but not exclusively Continental European) heraldry the image of a bird of prey – see displayed and rising (also armed, langued and membered).

  Eagle of 105th Regiment of the Line 1815, France (ageofrevolution.org); Camp Flag, 1st Dragoon Guards UK; Eagle Standard of a Roman Legion (source)

  Please note with regard to 2) that during the Napoleonic era the eagle-topped staff alone usually acted as a regimental standard whilst on campaign, with the colour itself being retained at a regimental depot.

EAGLE CANTON FLAG
  The original title of the flag as detailed below – see eagle standard 2).

EAGLE STANDARD
  1) See 'eagle 1)' and eagle 2)).
  2) A version of the US flag whose canton consisted of the great seal and largely (but not exclusively) in use as by the military from 1783–1912 – the eagle canton flag (see also Betsy Ross flag, Franklin flag, great star flags, old glory, quincunx, star-spangled banner, stars and bars, stars and stripes).

  Typical Eagle Standard c1824

EAST-WEST DIAGONAL
  A diagonal stripe that runs from the lower hoist corner to the upper fly corner, whose corners generally touch the corners of the flag but whose width is entirely contained within the width of the flag – a reduced bend sinister – see bend and Appendix IX (also ascending diagonal, descending diagonal, north-east diagonal, north-south diagonal, south-east diagonal, south-north diagonal, west-east diagonal, west-north diagonal, and west-south diagonal).

  The flag of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Flag of Břidličná, Czechia

ECCLESIASTIC (or ECCLESIASTICAL) BANNER
  See banner 3).

  (artfromthesoul.com)

ECCLESIASTIC (or ECCLESIASTICAL) FLAG
  See christian flag 1).

  Flag of the Church of Scotland (Graham Bartram)

EDGING (or EDGED)
  1) In vexillology a term that may be used in place of fimbriation (or fimbriated), particularly where that fimbriation does not follow the heraldic rule of tincture, and/or serves no heraldic purpose.
  2) See border.
  3) In strict heraldic practice the term that should be (but rarely if ever is) used in place of fimbriation when a charge so fimbriated touches the edge of a shield, banner of arms or flag.

  Flag and Arms of Blato, Croatia; Flag of Montenegro

EFFAROUCHÉ (or EFFAROUCHED)
  The heraldic term used when a cat is frightened.

  Flag of Vaugondry, Switzerland

E (or EFFICIENCY) PENNANT
  1) See battle efficiency pennant.
  2) In Canadian usage now obsolete, a pennant awarded for efficiency in the training of air crew during WWII.
  3) In US usage now obsolete, a pennant awarded by the US Government during WWII for excellence in the production of military equipment.
  4) See award flag.

  Efficiency Pennant 1941–1945, Canada; E Pennants: US Navy until 1942; US Army/Navy 1942–1945

EGYPTIAN CROSS
  See ankh.

  Flag used by the Music Group X Clan

ELABORATE/ELABORATED FLEUR-DE-LIS
  Translations of French term fleur-de-lis épanouie, which is an alternative name for the fleur-de-lys florenée.

  Flag and Arms of Gradište, Croatia

ELECTORAL CAP (or BONNET)
  The terms for a coronet (of varying design) now obsolete, that appeared above the arms of those German rulers who (until 1806) had the hereditary right to elect an emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, with a typical example being that above the Hanoverian inescutcheon on the royal standard of the UK from 1801–1816 – but see arch-ducal coronet (also coronet 2)).

  Flag of Salzburg, Austria; Ensign of Brandenburg late 17th century; Royal Standard of the UK and Electoral Standard of Hanover 1801–1816

EMBATTLED (or EMBATTLEMENT)
  (adj) The alternative heraldic terms used when a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, or its border, or the edge of an ordinary, is indented like a castle battlement – battled, battelly, bretessed, crenellé, crenelled, embattlement or kernelled (see also "embattled bretessé" [below], armorial bearings, coat of arms 2), counter-embattled, "embattled bretessé" (below), "embattled fourché" [below]).

  Flag of Bautzen, Germany; Flag of Oldenburg in Holstein, Germany; Flag of Avô, Portugal

EMBATTLED BRETESSÉ
  In heraldry the phrase used when a charge has crenelations directly opposite to each other – but see counter-embattled (also "embattled" [above], "embattled fourché" [below] and charged).

  Flag of former Trins circle; Flag of Degen; Flag of Duvin, Switzerland

EMBATTLED-COUNTER-EMBATTLED
  See counter-embattled.

  Flag of Kirchbarkau, Germany

EMBATTLED FOURCHÉ (or EMBATTLED PER CHEVRON INVERTED)
  Heraldic phrases that may be used to describe a fortified structure in which the "merlons" (or projecting sections) are topped by a V-shaped cutout – but see the note below (also embattled [above], "embattled bretessé" [above], chevron 2), counter-embattled, fourché).

  Flag of Römerswil, Switzerland; Flag of Orselina, Switzerland; Flag of Fürstenau, Switzerland

  Please note that the above phrases have been introduced by the Editors since, as far as can be discovered, this type of charge has never been accurately blazoned in correct heraldic language.

EMBLAZON
  1) See blazon.
  2) In strict heraldic usage, the creation of a pictorial record from a verbal or written description as referenced in 1) above.

  Arms of the Duke of Rutland, UK (Wikimedia); Arms of the 7th to 9th Duke of Atholl (Wikimedia); Arms of the 16th Earl of Warwick, England (Wikimedia)

EMBLEM
  1) Generically, a design, whether heraldic or otherwise, that is symbolic of a country, entity or person.
  2) Specifically, a design of heraldic or other symbols which is not a set of armorial bearings/coat of arms or a badge as defined herein. In a commercial context a logo is often used as an emblem (see also anti-heraldry, emblem, military and governmental/departmental, emblem, state and national, charge, flag emblem).

  Emblems of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan 1974–1978, Bhutan

Emblem, Military or Governmental/Departmental
  A design of heraldic or other symbols which is not a set of armorial bearings/coat of arms or a badge as defined herein, but which is used to denote a particular branch or division of the military, or a specific department within a government structure – but see badge 3) (also camp flag, emblem 2), emblem, state or national, charge, logo, military crest and ship’s crest).

  Army Flag/Emblem, RSA; Air Force Emblem, Ukraine; Flag of the Immigration Service/Emblem, Timor-Leste

Emblem, State, National, Presidential, Provincial or Royal
  A design of heraldic or other symbols which is not a set of armorial bearings/coat of arms or a badge as defined herein, but which is used to fulfil the function of a coat of arms in a national or provincial context – see notes below (also charge, emblem 2), emblem, military or governmental/departmental, royal emblem, seal).

  National Emblem, Mexico; Presidential Flag/Emblem, Armenia; Royal/National Emblem, Thailand

  Notes
  a) National/provincial emblems often epitomise the individuality and/or spirit of the state, and can be placed on a flag to distinguish it from others, which may be similar – as, for example, those on the civil ensign of Italy and national flag of Mexico.
  b) The emblems of some countries such as those of Mexico or of Italy (as shown above) – whilst conforming to the definition as detailed herein – are officially described as “coats of arms”.

EMBOWED
  A heraldic term for when the edge of an ordinary or a charge, an animal or of the arm of a man, or the division line on a shield, banner of arms or a flag is bent or bowed – arondi, bowed, bent or ployé – but see arched (also charge 1), pointed, vambraced).

  Flag of Seftigen, Switzerland; Flag of Velika, Croatia; Old Flag of Paderborn, Germany

EMBRACED
  An alternative heraldic term to interlaced.

  Arms and Flag of Sveta Nedelja, Croatia

EMBROIDER
  (v) The use of needlework to create or enhance a design – employed especially on military colours and flags for indoor display (see also colour 2), colours 2), indoor flag, raised detail).

  Embroidered Detail on the Flag of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

EMPALE
  An alternative heraldic term to impale.

  Flag of Saint-Florentin, France

EMPHASIZED
  In heraldry see garnished.

  Arms and Flag of Martijanec, Croatia

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