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# Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Chakra – Church Pennant)

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Last modified: 2026-05-02 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- CHAKRA (or CHAKKRA)
- CHALICE
- CHAMFERED SWALLOW-TAIL
- CHAMPAGNE
- CHAPÉ
- CHAPEL FLAG
- CHAPLAIN'S FLAG
- CHAPLET
- CHAPLET OF RUE
- CHARBUNCLE
- CHARGE
- CHARGED (or CHARGED WITH)
- CHAUSSÉ (or CHAPÉ)
- CHECKERED FLAG
- CHECKY (CHECKERED, CHECKIE, CHEQUEY, CHEQUERED, CHEQUE, CHEQUES, CHEQUY or CHECQUY)
- CHECKY (or CHECKERED) OF NINE
- CHESSBOARD
- CHEVAL-TRAP
- CHEVRON
- CHEVRONEL
- CHEVRONNY
- CHIEF
- CHRIST’S KNIGHT’S CROSS
- CHRISTIAN FLAG
- CHRISTIFERUS
- CHURCH BANNER
- CHURCH CLASP
- CHURCH FLAG
- CHURCH PENNANT (or PENDANT)

CHAKRA (or CHAKKRA)
  A wheel-like emblem that represents the Buddhist Dharma Chakra (or wheel of law) and which appears in a variety of different designs on the national flag of India, the military flags of Thailand and several other flags both past and present – an ashoka chakra (see also Buddhist flag).

  National Flag of India and Detail; Buddhist Flag, Thailand

CHALICE
  A ceremonial cup usually in some precious metal, occasionally covered or shown with a communion wafer, and used in most forms of Christian worship – but see the note below.

  Flag of Cavadoude, Portugal; Flag of Fanas, Switzerland; Flag of Jakšić, Croatia

  Please note that whilst the distinction is almost never observed on flags, in correct usage a covered chalice becomes a pyx.

CHAMFERED SWALLOW-TAIL
  In UK usage a term that may be used to describe the shape, now obsolete, of those guidons formerly carried by formations of cavalry – an angled swallow-tail – see descate.

  Guidon of the Royal Gloucestershire Yeomanry 1797, UK

  Please note that these terms have been introduced by the Editors since no established alternatives could be found.

CHAMPAGNE
  An alternative heraldic term for base – base 1).

CHAPÉ
  The French heraldic term used when the divisions on a shield or banner of arms form a triangle pointing upward, and employed by French heralds in place of the equivalent English terms per chevron or per pile reversed – see per chevron and its following note, plus the note following per pile and pile 2) (also chaussé).

  Flag of Suderburg, Germany; Flag of Koprivnica-Krizevci County, Croatia; Flag of Heiligenhaus, Germany

CHAPEL FLAG
  In US army usage a flag, bearing a device corresponding to a particular religion, displayed in a military chapel.

  Christian Faith Chapel Flag, US

CHAPLAIN'S FLAG
  In US army usage a flag, bearing a device corresponding to a particular religion, flown in the field to designate the location of a chaplain's quarters or office, or the site at which religious services are being held.

  Jewish Faith Chaplain's Flag, US; Christian Faith Chaplain's Flag, US; Buddhist Faith Chaplain's Flag, US

CHAPLET
  An alternative heraldic term for garland – see garland 1).

  Flag of Schönengrund, Switzerland

CHAPLET OF RUE
  A term sometimes (inaccurately and incorrectly) used in place of crown of rue.

  Royal Standard of the Kingdom of Saxony 1815–1918

CHARBUNCLE
  An alternative heraldic term for escarbuncle.

  Flag of Gnarrenburg, Germany

CHARGE
  1) Generically, any emblem, object or design placed upon the field of a flag or shield (see also Appendix IV).
  2) Specifically, a symbol placed upon the field of a flag, which is neither an emblem as specifically defined herein, nor a badge (see also emblem, state, national or royal, emblem military or governmental/departmental).
  3) (v) The act of placing such a charge on a flag.

  Please note however, that with a considerable degree of heraldic justification, some sources propose the charge to be an integral part of the design of a shield or banner of arms and usually not used separately, whereas, in general a badge may. It is suggested therefore, that the entry badge (in heraldry), and a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted.

CHARGED (or CHARGED WITH)
  1) In vexillology and heraldry the act of having placed a charge on a flag, shield or banner of arms (especially "charged with") – to have defaced with a charge.
  2) In heraldry this term may also be used when one charge is placed upon (that is on top of) and within another – but see surmounted by 2) (also debruised).

  Flag of Nottinghamshire, UK; Arms of Altkirchen, Germany (Wikimedia)

CHAUSSÉ (or CHAPÉ)
  The French heraldic term used when the divisions on a shield or banner of arms form a triangle pointing downward, and employed by French heralds in place of the equivalent English terms per chevron reversed or per pile – see per chevron and its following note, the note following per pile and pile 2) (also chapé).

  Flag of Var, France; Flag of Valmajor, Portugal; Flag of Albergaria-a-Velha e Valmaior, Portugal

CHECKERED FLAG
  See sports flag 4).

  Checkered flag

CHECKY (CHECKERED, CHECKIE, CHEQUEY, CHEQUERED, CHEQUE, CHEQUES, CHEQUY or CHECQUY)
  1) In vexillology, the term used for a flag (or sometimes a charge) bearing more than four but an otherwise varied number of rectangles (usually but not invariably squares) in alternating colours – but see compony and counter-compony (also charge 1) and quarterly).
  2) In heraldry the alternative terms covering a shield or banner of arms, or an ordinary/charge thereon, bearing (not less than twenty) squares of a metal and colour alternately – but see equipollé and the note below, compony and counter-compony (also ordinary).

  National Flag of Croatia, Czechia; Flag of North Brabant, Netherlands; Flag of Kupres, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  Please note that in heraldry the exact number of squares (if more than twenty) is usually left undefined, however, any number between ten and twenty squares is generally specified, and that in vexillology the number of such rectangles (regardless of quantity) is often precisely regulated.

CHECKY (or CHECKERED) OF NINE
  In heraldry see equipollé.

  Flag of Macieira de Cambra, Portugal

CHESSBOARD
  See checky.

  Flag of Ostrorog, Poland

CHEVAL-TRAP
  An alternative heraldic term to caltrap.

CHEVRON
  1) On flags any ‘V’ shaped charge on a flag irrespective of the width of the arms. The standard orientation of a chevron on flags is the same as 2) below, so when the apex is towards the top of the flag it is a standard or simple chevron, when towards the base of the flag a reversed or inverted chevron, however, when the apex is towards the fly it may be called a hoist chevron, and with the apex towards the hoist a fly chevron.
  2) In heraldry, the term for a charge with arms in the shape of a generally (but not invariably) inverted letter ‘V’, and heraldic use frequently suggests that a chevron should have a width equal to one-fifth the field of a banner of arms or shield – but see the second following note (also party, per chevron, naissant, pile 2), reversed 2)).

  Flag of Horebeke, Belgium; Flag of the Bulgarian Vexillological Society; Flag of Boelenslaan, Netherlands

  Notes
  a) With regard to 1), the Editors have adopted a heraldic model in defining a chevron on flags, however, please note also that there are conflicting definitions with regard to the standard vexillological orientation of a chevron and that usage of this term has not yet settled upon a consistent approach.
  b) With regard to 2), a chevron may also be embowed, wavy, embattled or otherwise differenced – see embattled embowed and wavy.

  Flag of Filzbach, Switzerland; Flag of De Valom, The Netherlands; Flag of Lamboing, Switzerland

CHEVRONEL
  A heraldic term used when two or more chevrons are displayed together on a shield or banner of arms, and heraldic use frequently suggests that a chevronel should be one-half the width of a chevron (see also "chevron" above and gemel).

  Arms and Flag of Zibreira, Portugal

  Please note that in heraldry the standard orientation of a chevronel is the same as that of a chevron and that variations of this standard may be described using the terminology given in 2) above.

CHEVRONNY (CHEVRONY, CHEVRONWISE or CHEVRONELLY)
  The heraldic terms used when the field of a shield, banner of arms or any quartering thereof is composed of a number of chevrons – chevrony, chevronwise or chevronelly – see "chevron 2)" (above).

  Flag of Avry, Switzerland

CHIEF
  A heraldic term for the top horizontal section of a shield or banner of arms, however, heraldic use frequently suggests that a chief should be one-third of the total depth of that shield, of a banner of arms or any quartering thereof (see also base, fillet 2), shield 2)).

  Flag of Raħal Ġdid, Malta

CHRIST’S KNIGHT’S CROSS
  See cross of the order of the knights of Christ.

  Putative Banner of the Order of the Knights of Christ

CHRISTIAN FLAG
  1) Christian flag: Generically one of a number of designs symbolizing Christianity; an ecclesiastic or church flag; a flag of a Christian organisation or movement – but see religious flag (also church flag 2)).
  2) Christian Flag: Specifically (but not exclusively) in US usage, the white flag with a blue canton containing a red Latin cross invented in 1897 by Charles Overton, and used (not exclusively) by various Protestant groups. The idea of the Christian Flag is to represent Christian faith and all Christians worldwide (in a spiritual, not institutional or nominal sense).

  The Anglican Catholic Church, US; the Christian Flag; the Anglican Diocese of Canterbury, UK

  Please note with regard to 2) that usage of the Charles Overton flag was originally (largely) confined to the United States, but evidence of growing use elsewhere has been reported.

CHRISTIFERUS
  A medieval term, now obsolete, for the bearer of a standard, flag or banner upon which the figure of Christ crucified was depicted.

CHURCH BANNER
  See banner 3) (also labarum 2)).

  artfromthesoul.com

CHURCH CLASP
  A direct translation of the German term Kirchenspange – but see forked cross.

  Flag of Affoltern district, Switzerland

CHURCH FLAG
  1) See Christian flag 1) and religious flag.
  2) In UK usage and some others, the flag flown from or outside a church; particularly that flown from an Established (or Anglican) Church defaced with the appropriate diocesan arms.
  3) A direct translation of the German term Kirchenfahne – but see labarum 2).

  Episcopal Churches, US; The Anglican Diocese of Chichester; State Service Flag of Vorarlberg, Austria

  Please note that the flag of Vorarlberg is itself not a church flag, but it depicts one.

CHURCH PENNANT (or PENDANT)
  In US, UK and some other naval usage, the pennant hoisted aboard a warship or naval shore establishment during religious services (see also bethel flag and flying angel flag).

  Pennants: UK / The Netherlands and Portugal

  Please note however, that in US usage this may also be called a worship pennant, particularly when in connection with a non-Christian service.

  Jewish Worship Pennant, US

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