- HALF MAST (or HALF STAFF) A FLAG
- (v & adj) To fly a flag at a point below its normal position, with the upper
edge of the flag about a third of the length of the flag pole, or a flag width,
from the truck, as a sign of mourning (see also
flag pole,
full mast,
length and truck).
Please note that the flag is first raised right
up to the truck before being lowered to its half-mast position, and raised once
again to the truck before being lowered completely.
- HALYARD
- A length of thin rope or cable by means of which flags might be hoisted and
lowered on a flag pole, mast or yardarm (see also Appendix I,
flag pole,
mast
and yardarm).
- HANDSCHYNIE
- A Scottish term, now obsolete, for a miniature square banner.
- HANDSIGNE
- A 16th/17th Century variant spelling, now obsolete, of ensign see
ensign 1)
and ensign 4) (also
'ancient 2)').
- HANDWAVER (or HANDFLAG)
- A small flag, usually made of either fabric or paper, fitted to a short stick and
intended to be waved by hand (see also table flag).
- HANGING FLAG
- A long vertically orientated flag - originally of Germanic origin and now
characteristic of both German speaking and other Central European countries -
it is square-ended or swallow tailed, usually consists of the main flag charge
and livery colours (with its first or main colour next to the head of the
pole) and is specifically designed to be hung by its top edge from a
horizontal pole attached to a building - not to be confused with the banner as
defined herein and the similar (but usually shorter and more elaborately
designed) gonfalon (see also banner 2),
flag charge,
gonfalon 1),
livery colours,
outrigger flag
and vertically hoisted flag).
The Flag and Hanging Flag of Weilrod, Germany (Jorge Majewski)
Please note, the Editors have adopted strict German vexillogical
practice in that they have drawn a precisely defined distinction between a hanging flag and a
banner, with such differences lying in both the method of suspension and in the orientation of
the stripes, please note also however, that this may not necessarily apply in all cases.
- HANSEATIC CROSS
- The term for a German war service medal issued by the former Hanseatic cities of Hamburg,
Lubeck and Bremen from 1915 - 1918, and which is sometimes used to describe a red, cross pattιe
of Germanic, particularly (but not exclusively) Hanseatic origin see
cross pattιe (also
cross 2) and
iron cross).
From left: The Hanseatic Crosses of Hamburg, Lubeck and Bremen (Hanseatic Cities),
Flag of the German Society for Rescuing the Shipwrecked (fotw), The Arms of Vegesack, Bremen, Germany (CS)
Please note that the above term should only be used when the cross pattιe
being described is red and/or is of a Hanseatic origin.
- HATA-SASHIMONO
- See daimo flags.
- HATCHMENT
- See achievement 2).
- HEAD, FLAGSTAFF
- See finial.
- HEADING (or HEADER)
- A piece of heavy material, usually canvas or double-ply bunting, along the
hoist edge of a flag, into which a rope is sewn as the hoistline, or into which
grommets are inserted to facilitate the hoisting of a flag (see also
sleeve, hoistline
and grommet 1)).
- HEADQUARTERS FLAG
- 1) See camp flag.
- 2) In US military, naval and some other usage, the rank flag of a commanding officer when flown
from their headquarters ashore a designating (of headquarters) flag (see also
rank flag 1) and
flag of command).
- HEADSTICK
- A short piece of wood sewn into the top of a flags heading to allow the Inglefield
clip to be attached about five cm from the top, thus permitting the flag to be
hoisted right up to the truck and enabling the top hoist corner of the flag to
remain straight and upright (see also Appendix I,
Inglefield clip and
truck).
- HEIGHT
- 1) The vertical measurement of an emblem, shield, charge or badge when detailing the dimensions
- but see width 3) (also
dimensions and
width across)
- 2) see width 1)
- HELM (or HELMET)
- The metal headpiece from a suit of armour placed above the shield in a coat
of arms or set of armorial bearings (see also
Appendix IV,
armorial bearings,
coat of arms and
shield).
Please note that in heraldry the style and positioning
of a helm varies according to the rank of the bearer, and it is suggested that
a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted for full details.
- HERALDIC BANNER
- See banner 1).
- HERALDIC BEASTS
- Animals, birds and mythological creatures used on flags and the shields of
coats of arms (see also supporters).
Please note that it is beyond the scope of this
work to list all the animals traditionally used in heraldry, and for these a suitable
glossary or heraldic dictionary should be consulted, however, the basic attitudes
in which all such animals may be found (or presented) on a shield or banner of
arms are listed in Appendix IV.
- HERALDIC STANDARD
- See standard 4) and
standard 5).
![[Heraldic standard example]](../images/v/vxt-d169.gif)
Heraldic standard of the Master Gunner St James
Park UK (Graham Bartram)
- HERALDRY
- The science concerned with the designing, interpretation, recording and blazoning of
those armorial bearings and/or heraldic insignia that pertain to an individual, an
institution or to a corporate entity (see also
anti-heraldry,
armorial bearings,
blazon,
coat of arms 2),
insignia
and pre-heraldic).
- HINOMARU (or HINU MARU)
- Literally sun-disk and the current national flag of Japan (see also
daimo flags and
mon).
National Flag of Japan (fotw)
- HISSFLAGGE (or HISSFAHNE)
- See hoisted flag.
- HOCHFLAGGE (HOCHFORMATFLAGGE or HOCHFORMATFAHNE)
- See vertically hoisted flag.
- HOIST
- 1) That edge or section of a flag, which lies next to the flagpole, mast or
staff the distance line (see also
Appendix I,
fly,
obverse and
reverse).
- 2) A group of signal flags hoisted together - a hoist of flags, signal group
or signal hoist (see also
call sign hoist,
International Code of Signal Flags,
making her number and
signal flag).
- 3) (v) The act of raising a flag.
- 4) The width of a flag (see also width).
- HOIST OF FLAGS
- See hoist 2) (also
International Code of Signal Flags and
signal flag).
- HOISTED (or HOISTING) FLAG
- A term and a direct translation of the German hissflagge or hissfahne used
in German language vexillology - to describe a conventional flag (that is a flag generally
longer than it is wide) which is hoisted on a flagpole in the normal way, but a term that
is only employed when such a flag is presented (either visually or in discussion) with
another - such as a banner, gonfalon or hanging flag - which is designed to be hung from
a cross bar or is otherwise vertically orientated (see also
banner 2),
cross bar,
flag 1),
gonfalon 1),
hanging flag,
outrigger flag and
vertically hoisted flag).
- HOISTLINE (or HOIST LINE)
- A piece of rope sewn into the heading of a flag to which the toggle (at the
top of the heading) and becket (or eye splice) in the other end below the flag,
or Inglefield clips (at both ends) are attached and by means of which the flag
is bent on (or attached) to the halyard (see also Appendix I,
becket, bend on,
eye splice,
halyard,
toggle, and
Inglefield clips).
Please note that the hoistline is described as a
distance line in US military specifications.
- HOLIDAY COLOURS (or COLORS)
- In US naval usage, a larger than usual set of colours flown by a vessel on
holidays and other special occasions (see also
ceremonial ensign,
garrison flag and
Sunday ensign).
- HOMEWARD BOUND PENNANT
- See paying off pennant.
- HONOUR (or HONOR) ENSIGN
- See ensign of honour.
- HONOUR (or HONOR) FLAG
- 1) The flag, now obsolete, that was selected to represent those nations which were working
towards world peace prior to the foundation of the United Nations Organization, and in
official/semi-official use (particularly, but not exclusively, in the USA) from 1943 to c1948 -
the four freedoms flag.
- 2) One of the flags presented in 1832 by the government of Belgium to honour those
municipalities who had made a significant contribution towards the independence of that country.
- 3) See flag of honour.
![[Honor flag - proposed UN flag]](../images/v/vxt-d506.gif)
From left:
The Honour Flag (fotw); The Honour Flag 1832 (CS)
Please note that the red bars optionally blue or green and
possibly yellow were said to represent the four freedoms (freedom of speech and expression,
freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, freedom from want and freedom from fear)
for which the Second World War was being fought, and that the alternative name of four freedoms
flag was in occasional use until 1945.
- HONOUR (or HONOR) JACK
- See jack of honour.
- HONOUR (or HONOR) POINT
- 1) On flags, a largely (but not exclusively) US term for that position on
a flag where the colour or charge with the greatest or highest symbolism is placed,
almost always the upper left (see also
canton 1),
quarter 1) and
union).
- 2) In heraldry, a point on the shield slightly above the exact centre -
the fesse-point (see
also shield).
Please note, not to be confused with the position
of honour (see position of honour).
- HONOUR (or HONOR) POSITION
- See position of honour.
- HONOURABLE ORDINARIES
- See ordinary.
- HOOKED-CROSS
- See swastika.
- HORIZONTAL CHEVRON
- See chevron.
- HORIZONTAL MERIDIAN (or MEDIAN)
- See meridian.
- HORSETAIL
- A decoration for military flags, especially in China where it is usually red;
made of real or simulated horsehair and is almost certainly descended from a
Mongolian vexilloid (see also tugh 1)).
Please note that the standards of some former French
cavalry units (notably the Spahis originally raised in North Africa) were also
decorated by horsetails (see also tugh 2)).
- HOUSE FLAG (or PENNANT)
- 1) The distinguishing flag or pennant of a merchant marine company flown at sea by ships
owned or managed by that company, and from their headquarters on shore a
shipping or shipping company house flag (see also
logo and
pennant 2)).
- 2) See corporate flag.
- 3) The personal flag of the owner of a pleasure vessel or home a private
signal (see also personal flag 2)).
- 4) See battle flag 2).
![[houseflag example]](../images/v/vxt-d585.gif)
From left: Dominion Shipping Company, UK (fotw); White Star Line, UK (fotw)
- HHOUSEWIMPEL
- See house flag 1) above.
Please note that the correct term in English language vexillology
is house pennant - see wimpel and following note.
- HUSSAR CUT
- A variation of the swallow-tail in which the cut in the fly of the flag is
shaped by several curves, and was formerly typical of the flags used by German
cavalry regiments (see also guidon 2) and
swallow-tail(ed)).
![[Hussar cut example]](../images/v/vxt-d171.gif)
West Prussian Dragoon Regiment No. 4 c1820
