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Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cravat - Cypher)

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CRAVAT
CRENELLED
CRESCENT
CREST
CREW’S MEAL PENNANT
CROOKED CROSS
CROSS
CROSS-COUPED
CROSS BAR (CROSS-BAR or CROSSBAR)
CROSS FORMÉE, (FORMÉ or FORMY)
CROSS FIXED
CROSS OF ANJOU
CROSS OF LORRAINE
CROSS OF ST ANDREW
CROSS OF ST GEORGE
CROSS OF ST PATRICK
CROSS PATRIARCHAL
CROSS PATTÉE (PATÉE, PATTY or PATY)
CROSS POTENT (or POTENCE)
CROSS THROUGHOUT
CROSSTREE
CROWN
CROWN OF RUE
CROWN TRIUMPHAL
CRUTCH
CUSTOMS FLAG (ENSIGN or PENNANT)
CYBERVEXILLOLOGY (or CYBERVEX)
CYPHER

CRAVAT

1) A decorative scarf, usually in national or livery colours and often richly decorated, tied with a bow to the staff below the finial, normally (but not exclusively) used with military flags (see also ‘draping’, ‘finial’, ‘livery colours’, ‘national colours 2)’ and ‘staff 2)’).

2) Long black ribbons tied to the staff of a military colour below the finial to signify mourning by the regiment or unit concerned for the loss of members of that regiment, or when participating in a military or state funeral - but see ‘draping’.

Please note that in French military usage, and possibly in others, the cravat is employed (including use with car flags) to differentiate between ranks and functions.

CRENELLED

See ‘embattled’.

CRESCENT

1) On flags, a charge in the shape of a crescent moon formed by two interlinked circles of varying size, generally (but not invariably) shown with the open horns towards the fly, and considered to be symbolic of Islam.

2) In heraldry a charge in the form of a crescent moon whose horns unless otherwise specified point upwards.

From left: Arms (CS); The National Flag of Turkey (fotw)

CREST

A heraldic term for a symbol attached to the helm above the torse and placed over the shield (see also ‘Appendix IV’, ‘armorial bearings’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘helm’, ‘shield’ and ‘wreath 2)’).

Please note that the term crest should only be used as specifically defined above, and not as a synonym for a coat of arms or set of armorial bearings (see also ‘armorial bearings’ and ‘coat of arms’).

CREW’S MEAL PENNANT

See ‘meal pennant’.

CROOKED CROSS

See ‘swastika’.

CROSS

1) Two stripes or bands of equal width (and in the same colour) but of unequal length, that extend to the outer edges of the shield, flag, canton or panel they occupy, and intersect at right angles in the exact centre of that flag, canton or panel – a cross fixed, cross throughout, an upright centred, regular or square cross (see also ‘St George’s Cross’).

2) A charge, which may or may not reach the outer edges of the shield, flag, canton or panel it occupies, and which may not have straight edges but which has four segments meeting at right angles at a central point – but see note below (also ‘charge’, ‘cross pattee’ ‘cross potent’ and ‘Maltese cross’).

3) A generic name for two stripes of the same colour (although counter-changed variants exist) and any width, crossing the field of a flag, panel or canton in any manner (see also ‘saltire’).

From left: Flag of Cornwall, UK (fotw); Flag of Hajdina, Slovenia (fotw); Flag of Asturias, Spain (fotw);Flag of Pisa, Italy (fotw)

Please note however, that whilst several of the types used on flags are detailed separately herein – the cross throughout as given in 1) above, the Greek cross, the cross pattee, the cross potent, the Scandinavian cross, the saltire (or diagonal cross) and the Maltese cross – numerous other variants exist (mostly used in heraldry but which also sometimes appear on flags), and it is suggested that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted (but see also ‘Cross of Lorraine’ and ‘swastika’).

CROSS-COUPED

See ‘couped 2)’ and ‘Greek cross’.

CROSS BAR (CROSS-BAR or CROSSBAR)

The transverse rod, from which a flag is suspended, either attached in the centre or from one end, or hung by ropes from a vertical pole or poles (see particularly ‘framed flag’, ‘gonfalon’ ‘hanging flag’ and and ‘vexillum’).

CROSS FIXED

See ‘cross 1)’.

CROSS FORMÉE, (FORMÉ or FORMY)

See ‘cross pattée’.

CROSS OF ANJOU

See ‘cross of Lorraine’ below.

CROSS OF LORRAINE

A cross in which two horizontal arms cross the vertical arm, and currently seen on the arms and alternative national flag of Hungary, the arms and national flag of Slovakia plus the arms and state flag of Lithuania ¬ a cross patriarchal, patriarchal cross, archiepiscopal cross or cross of Anjou (see also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘cross 2)’, ‘national flag 1)’ and ‘state flag 1)’).

From left: The Flag of Free France 1940-44; The National Flag of Slovakia; The Arms of Hungary (fotw)

Please note that the terms cross of Lorraine, cross of Anjou, cross patriarchal and archiepiscopal cross are now considered interchangeable, however, in strict usage the crosses of Lorraine and Anjou (unlike the others) should both have horizontal arms of equal length. ^{see supplemental note}

Cross of Lorraine According to Strict Usage

CROSS OF ST ANDREW

See ‘St Andrew’s Cross’

CROSS OF ST GEORGE

See ‘St George’s Cross’

CROSS OF ST PATRICK

See ‘St Patrick’s Cross’

CROSS PATRIARCHAL

See ‘cross of Lorraine’.

CROSS PATTÉE (PATÉE, PATTY or PATY)

The heraldic term for a cross which may or may not extend to the outer edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, whose arms are generally flat-ended but which is wider at its outer ends than it is in the centre. The arms can be straight-sided or curved throughout their length, or they can be straight-sided and parallel until being flared at their outer end – a cross formée, formé or formy, or an iron or Hanseatic cross – but see ‘Maltese cross’ (also ‘cross 2)’).

Flag of Wallis & Fortuna; Civil Ensign of Guernsey; House flag of Chr. Jensen, Denmark (fotw)

CROSS POTENT (or POTENCE)

The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose arms terminate in a transverse bar – a cross potence or Jerusalem cross (see also ‘cross 2)’ and ‘cross pattée’).

From left: cross potent example; The Kingdom of Jerusalem c1200 (CS)

CROSS THROUGHOUT

See ‘cross 1)’.

CROSSTREE

1) In largely US usage, a yard if fitted to a flag mast ashore (see also ‘yard’).

2) A cross bar attached near the top of an unstayed flagpole for the purpose of providing additional halyards to the one reeved at the truck (see also ‘reeve’, 'yard' and 'stayed mast').

CROWN

A ceremonial headpiece in the shape of a circlet often made of precious metal and adorned with pearls and gemstones – see note below (also ‘antique crown’, ‘coronet 1)’ and ‘coronet 2)’).

UK Royal Crown (Martin Grieve)

Please note that on flags a crown with a curved bar or bars across the top and a cap within generally (but not invariably) signifies a reigning monarch, however, the actual design will usually be specific to a given country and considerable variations exist. Please note also that in heraldry the term crown has a far wider use, and whilst a few of the many types encountered are described in this dictionary, it is strongly suggested that a specialist glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted for full details.

CROWN OF RUE

The heraldic term for a coronet placed per bend – or diagonally – across rather than above a shield or quarter – a crancelin (see also ‘bend’ in ‘Appendix VI’, ‘coronet’, ‘per bend’, ‘quarter’ and ‘shield 1)’)

The Flag and Arms of Saxony, Germany (CS)

CROWN TRIUMPHAL

The heraldic term for a closed garland or chaplet, usually composed of laurel leaves, and based on the ancient Roman triumphal ornament (see also ‘civic crown 2)’, ‘decking’, ‘garland’ and ‘wreath of immortelles’).

(Parker)

CRUTCH

A term for the central point at which the two triangles formed by a swallow-tailed cut in the fly meet (see also ‘orthogonal’ and ‘swallow-tail(ed)’).

CUSTOMS FLAG (ENSIGN or PENNANT)

A flag or ensign, different from the national/state flag or government ensign (or a variant thereof) or a pennant, which specifically identifies the installations or vessels of a country’s customs service (see also ‘national flag’, ‘government ensign’ under ‘ensign’, and ‘state flag’).

From left: Customs Flags/Ensign, Israel; Customs Flag, Japan; Customs Ensign, Iceland; Customs Flag, US; Customs Pennant, Thailand (fotw)

CYBERVEXILLOLOGY (or CYBERVEX)

Vexillological research and/or the publication of vexillological information using electronic means, particularly the Internet or other electronic delivery systems.

CYPHER

See ‘monogram’.

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