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# Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Bend – Bishop's Crook)

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Last modified: 2026-05-16 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- BEND
- BEND ON (or BEND ONTO)
- BEND SINISTER
- BEND SINISTER WAVY
- BEND WAVY
- BENDLET and BENDLET SINISTER
- BENDLET WAVY and BENDLET SINISTER WAVY
- BENDWISE (or BANDWISE SINISTER)
- BENDY
- BENDY LOZENGY
- BENDY SINISTER
- BENT
- BETHEL FLAG
- BETSY ROSS FLAG
- BEVILLED (BEVILED or BEVILLY)
- BEWPER (OR BEWPERS)
- BEZANT (OR BESANT)
- BICAPSULATED
- BICOLOUR (BICOLOR, BI-COLOR or BI-COLOUR)
- BIG ARMS (or BIG COAT OF ARMS)
- BILLET
- BILLETTY
- BIRDS IN HERALDRY
- BIRLINN
- BISHOP'S CROOK (or BISHOP'S STAFF)

BEND
  The heraldic term for a diagonal stripe which runs for the upper dexter to the lower sinister of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof, and which (in strict heraldic usage) should occupy about one-third of the field when charged, and one-fifth when plain – but see Appendix IX and descending diagonal (also in bend, per bend, quartering 1), triangular panel 2)).

  Flag of Neuenburg upon Rhine, Germany; Flag of Treycovagnes, Switzerland; Flag of Weisweil, Germany

BEND ON (or BEND ONTO)
  (v) Nautical terms for securing two pieces of rope together as in attaching the hoistline of a flag to the halyard of a flag pole or mast.

BEND SINISTER
  The heraldic term for a diagonal stripe which runs for the lower dexter to the upper sinister of a shield, a banner or arms or any quartering thereof, and which (in strict heraldic usage) should occupy about one-third of the field when charged, and one-fifth when plain – but see Appendix IX and ascending diagonal (also banner of arms, in bend sinister, per bend sinister, quartering 1), triangular panel 2)).

  Flag of Gränichen, Switzerland; Flag of Frankerandeel, The Netherlands; Flag of Coeuve, Switzerland

  Please note that a bend or baton sinister, sometimes incorrectly called a "bar sinister", was originally placed over a coat of arms to indicate illegitimacy – see baton(s) 2).

  The Arms of Arthur Plantagenet (d1542) illegitimate son of King Henry V, England (Wikimedia); Arms of the Duke of Grafton (1663–1690) illegitimate son of King Charles II, England (Wikimedia)

BEND SINISTER WAVY
  In heraldry see bend (also wavy).

  Flag of Schenefeld, Germany

BEND WAVY
  In heraldry see bend (also wavy).

  Flag of Lentegí, Spain (Wikimedia)

BENDLET and BENDLET SINISTER
  The heraldic term for a diminutive of bend and bend sinister, nominally half the width of a bend but often much narrower, sometimes wavy and usually (but not invariably) appearing in numbers of two or more – see "bend" and "bend sinister" (above) (also bendlet wavy & bendlet sinister wavy)

  Flag of Mustin, Germany; Flag of Grolley, Switzerland; Flag of Südtondern, Germany

BENDLET WAVY and BENDLET SINISTER WAVY
  In heraldry see bendlet and bendlet sinister (also wavy).

  Flag of Bredenbek, Germany; Flag of Trave-Land, Germany; Flag of Wesenberg, Germany

BENDWISE (or BENDWISE SINISTER)
  1) In traditional heraldry see in bend and in bend sinister.
  2) In some heraldic usage this term relates specifically to the axis of a charge or charges, rather than to its, or their position, on a shield, a banner of arms or a flag – but see in bend and in bend sinister as referenced above.

  Flag of Le Sentier, Switzerland; Flag of Haut Rhin, France; Flag of Eiken, Switzerland

BENDY
  1) The heraldic term for the division of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof, into four or more usually (but not invariably) equal bends or bendlets, and running from the upper dexter to the lower sinister in alternating tinctures – but see multi-stripe (also quartering 1)).
  2) See wavy.

  Flag of Schlosswil, Switzerland; Flag of Dijon, France; Flag of Molondin, Switzerland

BENDY LOZENGY
  See lozengy bendy.

  Flag of Bavaria, Germany

BENDY SINISTER
  The heraldic term for the division of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof, into four or more usually (but not invariably) equal bends or bendlets, and running from the lower dexter to the upper sinister in alternating tinctures – but see per bend sinister and multi-stripe (also quartering 1)).

  Flag of Halten, Switzerland; Flag of Wasseramt, Switzerland; Flag of Trüllikon, Switzerland

BENT
  In heraldry see embowed.

  Flag of Rodersdorf, Switzerland

BETHEL FLAG
  The flag of the Bethel Union, a seaman’s missionary organization, and occasionally flown in the 19th century by some British and US merchant vessels to indicate that a church service was taking place (see also church pennant and flying angel flag).

  Bethel Flag, Bethel Flag

BETSY ROSS FLAG
  A pattern of the stars and stripes whose canton carried thirteen five-pointed stars arranged in a circle, which according to legend was ordered by George Washington in 1776 and sewn by Betsy Ross of Philadelphia (see also continental colours, eagle standard, Franklin flag, great star flags, old glory, quincunx, stars and stripes and star-spangled banner).

  The Betsy Ross Pattern US National Flag

  Please note that the US flag had no official star pattern until 1818, at which time the 20-star flag (and all subsequent flags) had official patterns for military purposes. Since 1912 (the 48-star version), the flag has had an official pattern for all purposes, therefore, the type above is likely one of many patterns used during the period 1777–1795.

BEVILLED (BEVILED or BEVILLY)
  The heraldic terms that signify a kind of break forming a bevel or acute angle – beviled or bevilly.

  Arms of Gallizien, Austria (Wikimedia); Flag of Bubendorf, Switzerland; Flag of Mallnitz, Austria (Wikimedia)

  Please note that the above terms are archaic spellings of the modern English word bevelled meaning having a sloping edge or surface.

BEWPER (OR BEWPERS)
  A 16th to early 18th century term, now obsolete, for the loosely-woven fabric used to make flags – see bunting 1) (also breadth 2)).

  Typical Ensign c1590, England; Red Ensign 1707, UK

BEZANT (OR BESANT)
  Alternative heraldic terms for a gold or yellow disc – a roundel Or (see fountain 1), golpe, hurt, roundel 3), ogress, plates, pomme(s), torteau).

  Flag of Gáfete, Portugal; Flag of Zürich-Leimbach, Switzerland; Flag of Harelbeke, Belgium

  Notes
  a) In strict English heraldic usage this term should only be employed when the charge described is gold/yellow ("or") – see tinctures.
  b) The term, dating from the time of the Crusades, is derived from a gold coin of Byzantium.

BICAPSULATED
  In strict heraldic usage the term that should be used in place of double-headed.

  Flag of Simplon, Switzerland; National Arms and Flag of Montenegro

BICOLOUR (BICOLOR, BI-COLOR or BI-COLOUR)
  1) A flag of two even or uneven stripes or bands of colour (whether divided vertically, horizontally or diagonally) and whether defaced or plain – but see note below (also ascending diagonal 2), descending diagonal 2), per fess, per bend, per bend sinister, per pale, deface, plain 2) and stripe).
  2) An undefaced flag with two equal (vertical or horizontal) stripes or bands of colour – a simple bicolour – but see horizontal bicolour with vertical stripe at hoist.

  Flag of the Guarany People, Argentina; National Flag of Portugal; Flag of Armyans'k, Ukraine

  Please note that the division line on a bicolour may be described by using the vexillological terms: horizontal or vertical, by 'descending diagonal' and 'ascending diagonal'; or by the corresponding heraldic terms (party/divided): 'per fess', 'per pale', 'per bend' and 'per bend sinister'.

BIG ARMS (or BIG COAT OF ARMS)
  See greater arms under arms.

  Big/Greater Arms of Tallinn, Estonia

BILLET
  The heraldic term for a small rectangular charge usually (but not invariably) shown upright – but see billetty.

  Flag of Baarle-Nassau, The Netherlands; Flag of Ganderkesee, Germany

BILLETTY
  The heraldic term sometimes used to describe a semé of billets.

  Flag of Chastre, Belgium; Flag of Franche-Comté, France

BIRDS IN HERALDRY
  See eagle 3), martlet and vigilant (also armed 2), beaked, displayed, in her piety, langued, rising, perched, vol, volant and wattled 2).

  Flag of Wittingen-Radenbeck, Germany; National Arms of Romania; Flag of West Sussex, England

BIRLINN
  In Scottish heraldry see lymphad.

  Flag and Badge of The Western Isles Council, Scotland, plus (doubtful) Badge and Blue Ensign

BISHOP'S CROOK (or BISHOP'S STAFF)
  See crozier.

  Flag of Santo Tirso, Portugal

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