- WAFT (or WEFT)
- A term, how obsolete, for a flag tied in a knot and displayed at sea as a
signal of some emergency (see also
flag of distress).
- WAR BANNER
- In UK usage a term, last used in 1853 and now obsolete, for a small white
triangular flag seen on military drums at a proclamation of war (see also
bannerette).
- WAR ENSIGN
- See naval ensign listed under ensign.
- WAR FLAG
- 1) An alternative term for the naval ensign.
- 2) A term - and a direct translation of Reichskriegsflagge or bandera de Guerra
- for that flag (different from the national flag) flown by a countrys armed
services, which is usually (but not invariably) the same design as the naval ensign
and/or state flag (see also state flag, and
naval ensign/war ensign under ensign).
War Flag of Peru (fotw); War Flag/Naval Ensign of Bolivia (fotw)
- WAR (or WARSHIP) PENNANT
- See masthead pennant 1).
Please note that war pennant is a translation of the French term "flamme de guerre".
- WATTLE(D)
- 1) On flags, a plaque, frame or ornament consisting of two or more interlaced
branches, and typically used on Croatian flags (see also
cartouche and
ring).
- 2) In heraldry, the term refers to the fleshy lobe that grows under the throat
of a domestic fowl and in the adjective form is used when the wattle is of a different
tincture to the body of the bird concerned.
(Željko Heimer)
- WAVY
- (adj) Where the edges of a charge on the field of a shield, banner of arms
or flag is divided by a wavy line, and usually (but not invariably) symbolic of
running water undy.
Flag of Overijssel, Netherlands (Graham Bartram)
- WEAR A FLAG
- (v) To display a flag - said of a ship or any vessel (see also
fly 2)).
- WEATHER VANE
- See vane 4).
- WEIGHTED FLY
- A term which may be used when a metal rod (or similar)
is inserted into a sleeve placed at the fly of a conventional/hoisted flag (intended
to he hung from a horizontal pole) in order to weight it for vertical hanging and to
prevent the flag becoming entangled with its pole (see also
flagpole,
hoisted flag,
outrigger pole and
tangle rod).
Please note that this term has been introduced by the
Editors as no existing established term could be found.
- WEST-EAST DIAGONAL
- A diagonal stripe that runs from the upper hoist to the lower fly whose corners
generally touch the corners of the flag but whose width is entirely contained
within the width of that flag - a reduced bend. See bend in
Appendix VI (also
ascending diagonal,
descending diagonal,
east-west diagonal,
north-south diagonal and
south-north diagonal).
National Flag of Brunei (fotw)
- WHIP PENNANT
- 1) See masthead pennant 2).
- 2) See wimpel.
- WHITE ENSIGN
- In British usage the ensign worn by all vessels of the Royal Navy,
and over naval establishments, and by the Royal Yacht Squadron (see also
blue ensign
naval ensign under ensign, red ensign
and St Georges ensign).
White Ensign, UK (Graham Bartram)
- WHITE FLAG
- See flag of truce (also
dinner flag).
- WIDTH
- 1) That dimension of a flag which is measured vertically from its upper to
its lower edge - the height (see also Appendix I,
fly, hoist and
length).
- 2) The narrower or shorter dimension of a stripe or band within a flag - howsoever
orientated (see also stripe).
- 3) The vertical height of an emblem, arms, shield, charge or badge when it appears on a flag
but see the note below, height and
width across (also
badge,
charge,
emblem
'establishment of arms' and
shield).
Please note that definition 3) is given with regard to the consistent
use of proportions when describing a flag and its charges, however, it is suggested that when
giving the actual dimensions of any such charge the word height
should be used for its vertical measurement and the phrase width across
for its horizontal size (see also dimensions and
proportions).
- WIDTH ACROSS
- The horizontal measurement of an emblem, shield, charge or badge when detailing the dimensions
but see width 3) (also dimensions,
height and proportions).
- WIGWAG
- A system of signalling, now obsolete, in which a single flag (or
occasionally two flags) was (or were) waved according to an established code (see also
Morse code signalling with flags
and semaphore).
- WIMPLE
- See 'A pennant in national/livery colours or with a simplified charge, that is flown in place of
a national or other flag to avoid the appearance of an empty flag pole - especially popular in
Northern Europe and Scandinavia but increasingly used in the UK (see also
charge,
livery colours,
national colours 2),
national flag and
flag pole). '.
The Wimple of Denmark (fotw)
Please note that this term (or slight variations thereof) means pennant in several European languages,
but has been adopted into English language vexillology in this context and with the meaning given above - only.
- WIND (WINDSURF or WINDSURFING) DANGER FLAG
- See beach flag.
- WIND VANE
- See vane 3).
- WINDSOCK (or WINDCONE)
- 1) A flag-shaped like a sleeve, attached at the open end to a ring and pole,
and partially closed at the other characteristic of traditional societies and
modern Japan (see also draco,
dragon flag and
ring).
- 2) As above and generally brightly coloured, but usually fully open at the
fly end, tapered and used at airports (largely) to indicate wind direction.
- WOLFTEETH (WOLF-TEETH or WOLFS TEETH)
- 1) On flags, in largely (but not exclusively) Hungarian and other central/eastern European
usage, a band of inward pointing, connected triangles either curved, wavy or straight-sided and
forming a border on one or more, usually two, three or four sides of a flag (see also
serrated).
- 2) In European heraldry, a charge formed by a series of generally curved triangles issuing
from the edges of a shield or banner of arms.
From left: The War Flag of Hungary; COA (westkingdom);
The Flag of Budapest, Hungary (fotw)
Please note, the term may also be applied where the fly edge of a
flag is saw-toothed as illustrated above.
- WORSHIP PENNANT
- See church pennant.
- WREATH
- 1) On flags, two semi-circular crossed branches of varying types of intertwined
or plain foliage with or without flowers, that are tied with a ribbon at their
crossing point but generally split at the top but see garland 2)
(also garland 1)and
panicles).
- 2) In heraldry, a twisted band in the livery colours of a shield, generally
placed on top of the helmet and below the crest in a full set of armorial bearings
a torse (see also Appendix IV,
armorial bearings,
coat of arms,
'crest'
and shield).
Please note that a circlet composed of foliage is
called a chaplet or garland in heraldry (see also
civic crown 2) and
crown triumphal).
- WREATH OF IMMORTELLES
- The silver replica of a laurel garland or crown triumphal - placed at the
head of the colour pike or staff of certain British and Canadian regiments in
commemoration of particular distinction in action (see also
colour 2),
'colours 2)',
crown triumphal,
garland,
pike and
staff 2).
- WYN
- The exact details are conjectural, but considered to be have been either an alternative
term, now obsolete, for a lance pennon or vane (see also
pennon 2) and vane 1)).