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# Dictionary of Vexillology: E (Equilateral Triangle – Eyelet)

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Last modified: 2026-08-29 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
- EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)
- ERADICATED
- ERASED
- ERECT
- ERMINE
- ERRONEOUS FLAG
- ESCALLOP
- ESCARBUNCLE
- ESCUTCHEON
- ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE (or PRETENSE)
- ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMS
- ESTOILE
- ETALON FLAG
- EVENING COLOURS (or COLORS)
- EVENT FLAG
- EVERTED
- EVOLUTE
- EXECUTIVE ORDER
- EXPANDING STRIPE(S)
- EXTINCT FLAG
- EX-VOTO FLAG
- EYE COLOUR (or COLOR)
- EYE OF GOD (OF PROVIDENCE, OF PROVISION or OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE)
- EYE SPLICE
- EYELET

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
  A triangle whose three sides and three angles are equal – see triangle 1).

  Flag of Carneirinho, Brazil

EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)
  The alternative heraldic terms for a checky of nine squares (or occasionally squares and rectangles – see note a) below) in metal and tincture alternately (which thus form a cross) – a checky or checkered of nine, a cross equipollé or cross quarter-pierced – but see checky 2) and note below.

  Arms and Flag of Sé, Portugal; Arms of Lamas, Portugal

  Notes
  a) If, for example, the cross equipollé is displayed on a banner of arms or on only a section of those arms, two or more of the squares will become rectangles.
  b) A cross quarter-pierced need not (although it can) be formed by an equipollé of nine, and we suggest that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted if further details are required.

  Flag of Ħ'Attard, Malta

ERADICATED
  The heraldic term for a tree (or possibly a plant) showing its roots.

  Flag of Riedholz, Switzerland; Flag of Portunhos e Outil, Portugal; Flag of Vest-Agder, Norway

ERASED
  The heraldic term used when a charge is cut off as in couped 1), but with the dividing line ragged or uneven – see couped 1).

  Flag and Arms of Morra, The Netherlands; Flag of Trinity College – Oxford University, UK

ERECT
  1) The heraldic term used when an animal is shown upright or on its hind feet. In certain cases this may be used in place of "rampant", or may be employed in relation to the heads of animals and fish – but see erect 2), haurient, rampant, upright 2).
  2) The heraldic term also used when a charge (often a sword) is shown upright, and employed particularly when it is not normally seen in that position.

  Flag of Gorjani, Croatia; Arms of Sibenik-Knin, Croatia Flag of Smokvica, Croatia

ERMINE
  The heraldic term for the fur of that animal, and usually shown as a semé of small black trefoils (with larger tails) on a white field (see also potent 1), vair, vair bellies).

  Flag of Gistel, Belgium; Flag of Pays de Dol, France; Flag of Almanza, Spain

  Please note that "ermine" is considered symbolic of royalty, and is (accordingly) often seen on royal insignia – see pavilion.

ERRONEOUS FLAG
  1) A term sometimes used in place of the more precise terms fictional flag or fictitious flag (see also false flag 1)).
  2) A flag displayed or identified in error/mistakenly.

  Erroneous/Fictitious Flag of the Congo from the film Dark of the Sun; Erroneous/Fictional Flag of Buranda from the TV series Yes Minister

ESCALLOP
  The heraldic term for a scallop shell generally (but not exclusively) facing downwards, and often representing the badge of a pilgrim (see also pilgrim's staff).

  Flag of Saint-Barthélemy, Switzerland; Flag of Buttwil, Switzerland; Flag of Dorénaz, Switzerland

ESCARBUNCLE
  The heraldic term (usually but not invariably) for a charge with several radiating arms which is meant to represent the strengthening/decorative metalwork of a shield – a carbuncle or charbuncle.

  Flag and Arms of Re, Vestfold, Norway; Flag of Gnarrenburg, Germany

ESCUTCHEON
  The heraldic term for a shield or base upon which charges or quartering are placed (see also impale 1), inescutcheon, shield 1)).

  Escutcheons: Devínska Nová Ves, Slovakia, Oruro, Bolivia and Województwo Wielkopolskie, Poland

  Notes
  a) In English heraldry the shape of this shield/escutcheon is considered irrelevant in a grant of arms – a shape which is (in any case) usually dictated by the current fashion, however.
  b) The escutcheon of a spinster or widow is displayed upon a lozenge as referenced above.

  Escutcheon of Kate Middleton before her marriage to HRH Prince William (pngwing.com)

ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE (or PRETENSE)
  1) The heraldic term used when one country adds the arms of another to its own in order to show a claim to all or part of that country – for example: the arms of France added to those of England from c1350–1801 – but see flag of pretence.
  2) The heraldic term also used when the arms of an heiress are placed in the centre of those of her husband, rather than being impaled – see impaled.
  3) See inescutcheon.

  Royal Standard, England c1399–1605; Royal Arms, Denmark; Royal Standard Spain 1700–1759

ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMS
  An alternative term for a full set of armorial bearings (see also coat of arms).

  Flag of Gloucester, UK

ESTOILE
  The heraldic term for a star or star-like charge that usually (but not exclusively) has six wavy points, and considered by some sources to be interchangeable with mullet.

  Flag and Arms of Portsmouth, UK; Flag of St. Hilda's College Oxford, UK

  Please note, we suggest that a glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted regarding the term given above.

ETALON FLAG
  See model flag.

  Flag of Yukon Territory, Canada (Design Details Established by Etalon/Model Flag)

EVENING COLOURS (or COLORS)
  See sunset.

  Naval Ensign, UK; Naval Ensign, South Africa 1952–1981

EVENT FLAG
  See commemorative flag.

  Flag of the 26th International Congress of Vexillology, Australia

EVERTED
  An alternative heraldic term to reversed – see reversed 2).

EVOLUTE
  (v) A largely US term for the unrolling of a flag that has been stored rolled around a tube (see also unfurl).

EXECUTIVE ORDER
  In US usage, the legal means by which the President authorizes display of a flag or the amendment of an established design, and the equivalent of a presidential decree or Royal Order in Council – see also royal decree and royal order in council 2) (also flag law).

  National Flags of the USA 1912–1959 and 1959–1960 as Regulated by Executive Order

EXPANDING STRIPE(S)
  A term that may be used when a stripe or stripes widen (usually but not invariably) from the hoist to the fly and start from one fixed point (or from two closely spaced points) as in, for example, the flags of the Marshall Islands or the Seychelles – diverging stripes – but see converging stripes and beams (also radiating 1), striped).

  National Flag of the Marshall Islands; National Flag of the Seychelles

  Please note that this is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors as no suitably accurate alternative could be found

EXTINCT FLAG
  A phrase used but open to misinterpretation so not recommended by the Editors – see flag of former entity.

EX-VOTO FLAG
  A flag, usually small and plain, displayed (especially by Hindus) to fulfill a religious vow (see also religious flag).

EYE COLOUR (or COLOR)
  See animated.

  Flag and Arms of Vreia de Bornes, Portugal

EYE OF GOD (OF PROVIDENCE, OF PROVISION or OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE)
  The alternative terms for an ancient symbol composed of an eye contained within by a triangle now taken to symbolize the Trinity, and usually (but not exclusively) surrounded by a nimbus, the rays of a sun, a mandoria or similar – the All-Seeing Eye of God, the Eye of Providence or of Provision, of Divine Providence, God’s Eye or a Trinity Eye (see also radiant, rays 1)).

  Flag of Goppisberg, Switzerland; Flag of Radzymin, Poland; Flag of Dubliany, Ukraine

EYE SPLICE
  The naval term for a closed loop at the end of a rope or halyard formed by splicing the end of the rope back into itself to form an eye – a running eye – but see becket (also running eye and toggle, splice).

EYELET
  See grommet.

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