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# Dictionary of Vexillology: S (S Pennant – Saint Patrick's Cross)

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Last modified: 2026-08-21 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- S PENNANT
- SABLE
- SABRE (or SABER)
- SAFE CONDUCT FLAG
- SAFETY FLAG
- SAILING SHIP (or SAILING VESSEL)
- SAILOR’S MAST
- SAINT ANDREW’S CROSS
- SAINT ANDREW’S ENSIGN
- SAINT ANTHONY’S CROSS
- SAINT CATHERINE'S WHEEL
- SAINT CUTHBERT’S CROSS
- SAINT GEORGE-TYPE CROSS
- SAINT GEORGE’S CANTON
- SAINT GEORGE’S CROSS
- SAINT GEORGE’S ENSIGN
- SAINT JAMES' CROSS
- SAINT NINO'S CROSS
- SAINT PATRICK'S CROSS
- SAINT PETER'S CROSS

S (or SAFETY AFLOAT) PENNANT
  In US naval usage, a triangular pennant that is flown (from the port or starboard yardarm when in port) to indicate that the vessel has won an annual safety award competition (see also award flag).

  Safety Afloat Pennant, USN (seaflags.us)

SABLE
  The heraldic term for black – see tinctures (also rule of tincture).

  Please note that this term has a wider use than is detailed above, and the Editors recommend that a heraldic dictionary be consulted if further details are required.

SABRE (or SABER)
  In UK and US tradition and some others, a sword with a full handguard, and a curved single-edged blade (originally) designed for use by mounted troops – but see note below.

  Flag of Cyców, Poland; Flag of Kowala, Poland; Flag of Illinetsi District, Ukraine

  Please note that in some Central and East European usage the term is used to describe a sword with a curved single-edged blade but with a straightforward cross guard as illustrated above – but see scimitar.

SAFE CONDUCT FLAG
  1) A special flag of internationally recognized design – such as that of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal and others – which (by international agreement) protects personnel engaged in medical succour, ambulances, civil and field hospitals and hospital ships against military action – a Geneva Convention flag, or flag of protection (see also international flag, supra-national flag).
  2) The Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal and other recognized flag designs (together with arm brassards or painted symbols) are also used to indicate the facilities and personnel of these organisations rendering aid to the survivors and casualties of natural or human disasters (see also international flag, supra-national flag).

  Flags of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal

  Please note that on 8 December 2005 the International Committee of the Red Cross adopted a Protocol (Protocol III) authorizing a red crystal (diamond shape) as an additional non-religious and politically neutral symbol, however, please also note that the flags of the Red Cross and of its associated organizations are at the same time international flags, safe conduct, flags of protection and Geneva Convention flags.

SAFETY FLAG
  1) In Japanese usage one of several green and white flags symbolizing safe conditions in various situations (see also weather flag 2).
  2) See beach flag and storm warning flag (also airfield safety flag, red flag 1)).

  Health Flag; Japan; Safety Flag for General Use, Japan; Health and Safety Flag, Japan

SAILING SHIP (or SAILING VESSEL)
  1) In traditional English heraldry see ancient ship.
  2) In vexillology and in modern heraldry the terms for a wind-powered, sea-going vessel regardless of type – but see the notes below (also galleon).

  Flag of Wittmund, Germany; Flag of Kostrena, Croatia; Flag of Dumyat (Governorate), Egypt

  Notes
  a) The term "sailing vessel" (as given in the alternative heading above) can include those which are designed for inshore/leisure activities such as sailing dinghies or yachts, however;
  2) to individually list the many types these or other sailing vessels is (properly speaking) beyond the remit of this dictionary, nonetheless, please see caravel with its following note, cog and nef.

  The Arms of Velas, Portugal showing a caravel

SAILOR’S MAST
  In largely German usage, a flag pole or mast (most often) erected ashore for the multiple display of barge or inland waterway related flags for decorative purposes, and equipped with a long gaff and yard – a display mast or bargemen’s association display mast (see also dress ship, stayed mast).

  Please note that this term is a translation of the German Schiffermast, and that use of such masts seems to be restricted to associations of bargemen or similar.

SAINT ANDREW’S CROSS
  1) See saltire and the note below.
  2) A white saltire on a blue field – the national flag of Scotland or the Scottish saltire (see also, st. george's cross 2), st. patrick's cross and union jack 1)).
  3) A blue saltire on a white field – the naval ensign of Russia and former naval ensign of Ukraine – a St. Andrew's ensign, Andreevskiĭ, Andreevsky or Ahndreeyeeskeey (see "saint andrew's ensign" below).

  Battle Ensign of the Coast Guard, Georgia; Flag of Zhmerinka District, Ukraine; National Flag of Scotland

  Please note that whilst the term St George's Cross generally refers only to a red cross on a white field, the Cross of St Andrew, due to a tradition that the apostle was crucified on a diagonal cross, has come to be regarded by many as a saltire of any colour or metal on a field of any colour or metal. Although this is considered inaccurate in English heraldic or vexillological usage, it is common in countries and languages where a term equivalent to saltire does not exist.

SAINT ANDREW’S ENSIGN
  See st andrew’s cross 3) above.

  Naval Ensign of Ukraine (May 1918)

SAINT ANTHONY’S CROSS
  In heraldry see cross tau (also acorn cross).

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

SAINT CATHERINE'S WHEEL
  A representation of the torture wheel upon which, according to Christian tradition, St Catherine is reputed to have been executed – a wheel of St Catherine, a torture or bladed wheel (see also waterwheel).

  Flag of Ryglice, Poland; Flag of Peredo, Portugal; Flag of St Catherine’s College Cambridge, UK

SAINT CUTHBERT'S CROSS
  A cross pattée rounded having a detailed centre, and representing the pectoral cross of St Cuthbert (see also rounded cross).

  Flag of Durham County, UK; Arms of Newcastle University, UK (Wikimedia); Flag of Kirkcudbrightshire, UK

  Please note that a "pectoral cross" is one of the badges of office worn by a bishop.

SAINT GEORGE-TYPE CROSS
  See cross 1) (also st george’s cross 3)).

  Flag of Blanes, Spain

SAINT GEORGE'S CANTON
  See canton of st. george.

  Flag of the Honourable East India Company c. 1650, England

SAINT GEORGE’S CROSS
  1) Generically, see cross 1).
  2) Specifically, the Cross (as above) of St George – the national flag of England and the flag of the ancient Republic of Genoa – a Cross of St George (see also canton of st. george, st. andrew's cross and st. george’s ensign, st. patrick's cross, union jack 1)).
  3) Any red cross on a white field – but see note b) below.

  National Flag of England; Flag of Sutherland Shire, Australia; Flag of Genoa, Italy

  Notes
  a) Any cross of St George whose arms are of equal length is also a greek cross.
  b) In Balkan and Central European usage a white cross on red is also sometimes referred to as the Cross of St George.

  Flag of Donji Miholjac, Croatia

ST GEORGE’S ENSIGN
  In English later British RN usage now obsolete, the term to describe a white ensign charged with a Cross of St George overall (as per the present pattern), and formerly used in order to differentiate it from one having a plain fly as illustrated below (see also canton of st. george, st george’s cross 2), white ensign 1)).

  White Ensign, England 1702–1707; White Ensign for use in home waters 1707 – c1740; White Ensign, UK 1707–1801

  Notes
  a) White ensigns bearing a Cross of St George overall were introduced in 1702 to avoid any possible confusion between the those of the white division of the English fleet, and the plain white ensigns of the French.
  b) They were at first at restricted to use outside home waters, however, the version with a plain fly had disappeared by 1744.

SAINT JAMES’ CROSS
  See cross of santiago.

  Cross of the Order of Santiago

SAINT NINO'S CROSS
  A cross, both of whose horizontal arms point downwards and considered symbolic of the Georgian Orthodox Church – a grapevine cross – but see note below (also cross 2), orthodox cross).

  Flag of Sighnaghi, Georgia; Flag of Kaspi, Georgia

  Please note that the flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church may (occasionally) be charged with a cross of this type, however, when it is hoisted from a conventional flagpole the downward sloping arms will point towards the fly.

  Flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church

SAINT PATRICK'S CROSS
  A red saltire on a white field (see also st andrew's cross 2), st. george's cross 2), union jack 1)).

  Please note that this saltire has no known links to the saint, but when adopted for the British Union Flag was a symbol of the knightly Order of St Patrick (see also union jack).

SAINT PETER'S CROSS
  See cross of st peter.

  Flag of Vascôes, Portugal

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