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Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Banner Roll - Bicolour)

Last modified: 2008-01-05 by phil nelson
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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BANNER ROLL
An 18th Century corruption, now obsolete, of the also obsolete term bannerole (see 'bannerole').

Please note, it is suggested that this term could also apply to a roll or scroll depicting banners.

BANNERET
1) A term sometimes used to describe a miniature banner; this is often (but not invariably) straight-sided and swallow-tailed, is designed to be displayed vertically and usually shows emblems of both national and local significance (see also ‘bannerette’, ‘emblem, general’ and ‘swallow-tail(ed)’).
2) A medieval term, now obsolete, for a knight entitled to lead men into battle and whose lance pennon as square-ended, or for the group of knights so lead – a banneretus (see also ‘banderium’, ‘lance pennon 1)’ and ‘pennoncier’).
BANNERETTE (BANERETTE or BANNERET)
1) A small ceremonial banner decorating a set of bagpipes, a drum or a trumpet – a drum banner, pipe banner or a trumpet banner or tabard (see also ‘war banner’).
2) See ‘banner 3’.
BANNERETUS
A medieval term, now obsolete, for a banneret (see ‘banneret 2)’).
BANNERMAN
1) In largely Scottish usage a term, now obsolete, for one who bears a standard.
2) An originally 17th century term, now obsolete, for a Chinese soldier belonging to one of the eight “banners” (or divisions) of the Manchu army (see also ‘banner 6)’).
BANNEROLE (or BANNEROL)
The term, now obsolete, for a small flag (usually three feet - 91 cm - square) that displayed a single quartering from a deceased person’s coat of arms for use at that person’s funeral – a banner roll (see also ‘achievement of arms 2)‘, ‘badge banner’, ‘canton 3)’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘great banner’, ‘grumphion’ and ‘quartering’).

Please note - not be confused with banderole (see ‘banderole’).

BAR
See ‘Appendix VI’.
BARGE FLAG
In UK usage, one of a number of varying flags (usually a banner of arms) which are flown from the ceremonial barges of London’s livery companies (see also ‘boat flag 3)’).
BARRULET
See ‘Appendix VI’.
BARRY
See ‘Appendix VI’.
BASE
The heraldic term for the lower section of a shield or banner of arms, however, heraldic use frequently suggests that the base should be roughly one-third of the total depth of that shield or flag (see also ‘banner 1)’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘field’, ‘pointed’ and ‘shield’).
BASE FLAG
In US Air Force usage, a post flag (see also ‘post flag 1)’).
BATHING FLAG
See ‘beach flag’
BATTALION RING
A term for a metal band sometimes placed on the staff of a military or national colour (usually below the lower edge of the flag), and showing the battalion and regiment to which it belonged – a ring (see also ‘battle honour’, ’colour 2)’ and ‘staff 2)’.

Please note that as far as can be determined, this was a custom formerly in the US Army (but still in use in the US Marine Corps) and also in some European forces. see supplemental note

BATTLE BANNER
A generic term for those flags having heraldic (or armorial) symbolism that were carried into battle during the medieval period (see ‘battle standard’, ‘livery colours’, ‘lance pennon 1)’, ‘pennoncelle’ and ‘standard 3)’).
BATTLE COLOUR (or COLOR)
In US usage, the organizational colour of a combatant Marine Corps unit or of the Corps as a whole when carried by dismounted troops (see also ‘branch of service flag’).
BATTLE ENSIGN(S)
One or more large naval ensigns flown from the yardarms of a warship prior to commencing - and during - a surface engagement at sea (see also ‘naval ensign’ under ‘ensign’ and ‘yardarm’).

Please note that a warship raises additional large-sized ensigns prior to an engagement at sea for added identification and in case one or more are shot away.

BATTLE FLAG
1) A flag (either official or unofficial) that is specifically intended for use in battle – either to avoid confusion with the flag of an enemy or to convey a patriotic sentiment – and used in addition to or instead of military colours (see also ‘colour 2)’, ‘colours 2)’, ‘Southern Cross 2)’) and ‘stainless banner’.
2) In US naval usage, an unofficial flag flown from the yardarm when entering or leaving port, completing underway refuelling, parting company with other ships, or similar occasions – a house flag or unrep flag (see also ‘yardarm’).

Battle flag of CSA
Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, CSA 1861 – 1865 (fotw)

Please note with regard to 2), that these flags have no standard pattern, official existence or meaning, but are designed and used by individual ship’s companies to express pride in their vessels, that their use has become traditional in the US Navy, that US and that other naval forces have official naval code signals to order and conduct operations such as underway replenishment (with these unofficial flags being hoisted in addition).

BATTLE HONOUR (or HONOR)
A mark of distinction, usually including the name of a battle or campaign, added to a regimental or other unit colour to show unit’s military service. This may take the form of an inscription within a ribbon scroll applied to the field of the colour, or a metal band (or bands) around the staff, or a metal clip attached to a streamer, or to the streamer itself – a battle streamer (see also ‘battalion ring’, ‘colour 2)’, ‘ferrule’, ‘staff 2)’ ‘streamer 1)’ and ‘streamer retaining ring’, and compare with ‘augmentation of honour’).

Please note however, that in many navies ships show their battle honours on a carved board or similar on ceremonial occasions, or when the ship is open to visitors rather than on a unit flag.

BATTLE STANDARD
A term, now obsolete, for the Scottish heraldic standard as carried in battle, and there are indications that it was the smallest of three sizes (see also ‘standard 5)’, ‘pageant standard’ and ‘great standard’).
BATTLED (or BATTELLY)
See ‘embattled’.
BATTLE STREAMER
See ‘battle honour’.
BAUCANS (or BAUCCEDILLIAN)
A 13th Century term, now obsolete, for the plain red streamer flown from a ship’s masthead (in northern European waters) to signify that ‘no quarter would be given’, and the size according to record was 30 yards (24.45m) long by 2 yards (1.82m) wide (see also ‘flag of defiance’ and ‘streamer 2)’).

[Baucens]

Please note that this flag first appears in records of the 1290’s, and is considered to have been a direct ancestor of the later flag of defiance. Note also “no quarter would be given” indicates that surrender would not be accepted and all prisoners killed.

BAUCEANT (BAUCEANS, BAUCENT or BEUCENNUS)
A medieval term for the black and white banner of the Knights Templar – the balzaus (see also balcanifer’).

[Bauceant]
One interpretation of the Bauceant (CS)

BEACH FLAG
A flag or pennant from one of several different systems for signalling the condition of a beach, the state of the ocean or weather at that particular point, and/or to what degree bathing safety precautions are in place – a bathing or surfing flag, a shark alert or alarm flag, a wind, windsurf or windsurfing danger flag or similar (see also ‘red flag 1)’ and ‘storm warning flag’).

beach flags
Some Beach Flags and Pennants, UK, The Netherlands, Portugal and France (fotw)

BEARING
See ‘charge’ and ‘charged’.
BEAUFORT
An early 18th Century alternative term, now obsolete, for bunting – see ‘bunting 1)’ (also ‘bewper’ and ‘breadth 2)’).
BECKET
A loop at the end of the hoist line of a flag that fastens to a toggle at the end of the halyard when hoisting a flag – a running eye or eyesplice (see also ‘halyard’, ‘hoistline’, ‘running eye and toggle’).

[becket]
Becket and toggle (AB)

BED SHEET FLAG (or BSF)
See ‘logo on a bed sheet’.
BEEF PENNANT
See ‘bullock pennant’.
BELAYING PIN
An increasingly obsolete method of belaying, turning up or securing the halyard by means of movable vertical pins fitted into a frame or rack at the foot of the mast now largely replaced by the cleat (see also ‘cleat’ and ‘halyard’).
BEND (and BEND SINISTER)
See ‘Appendix VI’ (also ‘abased’, ‘ascending diagonal’ and ‘descending diagonal’).
BEND ON (or BEND ONTO)
(v) A nautical term for securing two pieces of rope together as in attaching the hoistline of a flag to the halyard of a flag pole or mast (see ‘halyard’ and ‘hoistline’).
BENDLET (& BENDLET SINISTER)
See ‘Appendix VI’.
BENDY
See ‘Appendix VI’.
BETHEL FLAG
The flag of the Bethel Union, a seaman’s missionary organization, and occasionally flown in the 19th Century by some British and US merchant vessels to indicate that a church service was taking place (see also ‘church pennant’ and ‘flying angel flag’).

[Bethel flag] [Bethel flag]

BETSY ROSS FLAG
A pattern of the starns and stripes whose canton carried thirteen five-pointed stars arranged in a circle, which according to legend was ordered by George Washington in 1776 and sewn by Betsy Ross of Philadelphia (see also ‘continental colours’, ‘Franklin flag’, ‘old glory’, ‘quincunx’, ‘stars and stripes’ and ‘star-spangled banner’).

[Betsy Ross flag]
The Betsy Ross Pattern US National Flag (fotw)

Please note that the US flag had no official star pattern until 1818, at which time the 20-star flag (and all subsequent flags) had official patterns for military purposes. Since 1918 (the 48-star version), the flag has had an official pattern for all purposes, therefore, the type above is likely one of many patterns used during the period 1777-1795.

BEWPER (OR BEWPERS)
A 17th Century term, now obsolete, for bunting (see also ‘bunting 1)’).
BICOLOUR (BICOLOR or BI-COLOUR)
1) A flag of two even or uneven stripes or bands of colour (whether divided vertically, horizontally or diagonally) and whether defaced or plain (see also ‘deface’, ‘plain 2)’ and ‘stripe’).
2) An undefaced flag with two equal (vertical or horizontal) stripes or bands of colour – a simple bicolour (see also ‘undefaced’).

Bicolour [Poland]
National Flag of Poland (fotw)

[bicolor flags]
From left: National flag of Haiti (fotw); National Flag of Portugal (fotw); National Flag of Bhutan (fotw)

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