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# Dictionary of Vexillology: F (FNFL Jack – Fourth Canton)

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Last modified: 2026-08-29 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- FNFL JACK
- FOLK FLAG
- FOLKLORE (or FOLK) ORNAMENT
- FOOTBALL FLAG
- FORCENÉ
- FORE, AT THE
- FORE DOWN
- FOREMAST (or FORE)
- FORKED CROSS
- FORKED ENSIGN
- FORKED MERLONS
- FORK(ED)-TAIL (or FORK-TAILED)
- FORMÉE (FORMÉ or FORMY) CROSS
- FORMER FLAG
- FORTIFIED STRUCTURE
- FORTRESS FLAG
- FOULED ANCHOR (or FOUL ANCHOR)
- FOUNTAIN (or FOUNT)
- FOUNTAIN FILL
- FOUR COLOUR PRINTING SYSTEM
- FOUR FREEDOMS FLAG
- FOURCHÉ (or FOURCHÉE)
- FOURRAGÈRE
- FOURTH CANTON (or QUARTER)

FNFL JACK
  See jack of honour.

  Jack of the FNFL (Forces Navales Françaises Libres), France

FOLK FLAG
  A homemade national or sub-national flag of simplified design (see also unofficial flag).

FOLKLORE (or FOLK) ORNAMENT
  A decorative band usually (but not invariably) placed along the hoist of a flag, and intended to represent an element of cultural identity – a folk ornament – but see national ornament.

  Flag of Batken, Kyrgyzstan; Flag of the Mulgi people, Estonia

  Notes
  a) These are not established terms, but have been introduced by the Editors since no established alternatives could be found.
  b) The terms “National Ornament” and “Folklore Ornament” are often synonymous since the former was often adopted from the latter.

FOOTBALL FLAG
  See sports flag.

  Flag of Manchester United FC, UK; Flag of the Gibraltar Football Association; Flag of Lincoln City FC, UK

FORCENÉ
  The heraldic term used when a horse is seen rearing on its hind legs – but see also rampant and salient.

  Flag of Lačnov, Czechia; Flag of Leegebruch, Germany; Flag of Badendorf, Germany

FORE, AT THE
  (adv) The phrase used when a flag is flown at the truck on the foremast of a ship it is described as being – at the fore – (see also mast, masthead).

  Flag of a Vice-Admiral 1864–1898, UK

  Please note that in the sailing/steam-assisted navy, the command flag of a vice-admiral was formerly flown in this position (also balls of difference, flag of command, flagship).

FORE DOWN
  The forward line upon which signal flags are displayed when a vessel is dressed overall – see dressing lines, dress ship 1), dress ship 4).

FOREMAST (or FORE)
  The forward vertical mast in a three or four masted sailing ship or the forward mast of a motor vessel regardless of the number of masts – see fore, at the (also mainmast, mizzen).

FORKED CROSS
  The term that may be used for a particularly Germanic form of the cross fourché – a cross formed by four trammel-hooks – a kirchenspange – but see cross fourché (also andiron, cross 2)).

  Flag of Affoltern district, Switzerland; Flag of Kappel am Albis, Switzerland

  Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors to avoid any possible confusion with the existing term hooked cross.

FORKED ENSIGN
  See swallowtail(ed).

  State Ensign of Lower Saxony, Germany

FORKED MERLONS
  In heraldry see embattled fourché.

  Flag of Carabietta, Switzerland

FORK(ED)-TAIL (or FORK-TAILED)
  See swallow-tail(ed).

  Flag of Galanta, Slovakia

FORMÉE (FORMÉ or FORMY) CROSS
  In heraldry see cross pattée.

  Flag of Vilamacolum, Spain

FORMER FLAG
  1) See historical flag.
  2) See flag of former entity.

  Flag of Qatar 1860–1916; Flag of Danzig 1457–1939

FORTIFIED STRUCTURE
  See in heraldry castle.

  Flag of Gibraltar, UK

FORTRESS FLAG
  The term for a flag, now obsolete, that was flown over military defences (either inland or coastal). In British and Russian usage this was the naval jack, whilst in others the war flag/naval ensign or the state/national flag (or a variant thereof) might be employed.

  1801 Pattern of Union Jack, UK; Jack/Fortress Flag, Soviet Union 1924–1932; State Flag/Naval Ensign of Norway

  Notes
  a) Some countries use/used ensigns of special design to denote ships belonging to naval fortresses (notably Soviet Union).
  b) It is also not unknown for a country to have had sets of rank flags to denote presence of officers of particular rank/position in coastal artillery and fortresses.

FOULED ANCHOR (or FOUL ANCHOR)
  In United Kingdom usage and some others, the terms for an anchor entangled with its cable – but see cabled (also admiralty flag, anchor flag).

  Flag of the Naval Board, Canada; Flag of the Admiralty Board, UK; Flag of the Chief of the Navy Board, Australia

  Please note that in UK usage the fouled (or foul) anchor is considered a symbol of the Royal Navy, and that officers of the British merchant marine show an anchor (of a slightly differing pattern) without its cable on their cap badges and buttons.

FOUNTAIN (or FOUNT)
  1) In traditional heraldry a roundel bearing a number of wavy lines almost exclusively (but not invariably) in azure and argent, which represent a well or spring of water – a roundel barry wavy (see also barry, roundel 3)).
  2) In in modern heraldry and in vexillology the (sometimes stylized) pictorial representation of a decorative/architectural device which pours or projects water – a water-pouring, water-gushing or waterspout fountain.

  Flag of Carragosa, Portugal; Flag of Funtana, Croatia; Flag of Eirado, Portugal

FOUNTAIN FILL
  See gradient fill.

  Flag of the Christlich-Soziale Union, Bavaria, Germany

FOUR COLOUR PRINTING SYSTEM
  See CMYK.

FOUR FREEDOMS FLAG
  See honour flag 1).

  Four Freedoms/Honor Flag

FOURCHÉ (or FOURCHÉE)
  The Old French for forked – in heraldry see cross fourché, embattled fourché, queue fourché.

  Flag of Faido, Switzerland; Flag of Castel San Pietro, Switzerland; Flag of Martigny, Switzerland

FOURRAGÈRE
  See lanyard 1) (also lanyard pennant).

  (sofmilitary.co.uk)

FOURTH CANTON (or QUARTER)
  Alternative terms for that quarter of a flag which occupies the lower fly – the fourth quarter, lower fly or lower fly canton – see canton 3) (also hoist 1)).

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