- DHVAJA
- A triangular flag usually containing seven red over white horizontal stripes
whose lower edge is at right angles to the hoist, and symbolic of Hinduism (see
also religious flag).
![[Hindu dhvaja]](../images/v/vxt-d113.gif)
Dhvaja of the Hindus (CS)
Please note that the word is sometimes pronounced
as dvahjah, but that other pronunciations exist.
- DIAGONAL (or DIAGONAL-CENTRED) CROSS
- See saltire.
- DIFFERENCE (DIFFERENCED or DIFFERENCING)
- 1) (v) On flags, to create a variation of another flag, either by changing
one or more colours, or by adding or removing a charge. Usually done to indicate
close cultural, historical, or geographic ties as in, for example, the flag of
Italy was differenced from that of France by changing the blue stripe to green,
or to differentiate between the various grades of senior officer in the armed
services (see also archivexillum,
core flag, flag family and
rank flag).
- 2) In heraldry, see cadency, mark of and the note below..
![[Hindu dhvaja]](../images/v/vxt-d114.gif)
National flag of Russian (fotw); Civil Ensign of Slovenia (fotw); National Flag of Bulgaria (fotw)
Please note with regard to 2) that in heraldry the terms difference and
differencing may not have exactly the same meaning, that these terms do not necessarily equate directly
with cadency as shown above and that we therefore suggest a dictionary or glossary on heraldry should
be consulted for further details.
- DIMENSIONS
- The actual measured size of a flag, or of a charge thereon, as opposed to its proportions (see also
proportions,
specification, and
specification sheet,).
- DIMIDIATED
- (adj) The heraldic term for a charge or charges, such as animals, birds (particularly
eagles) or fleur-de-lis,forming part of a coat of arms, or an entire coat of
arms as defined herein, which are halved along the vertical centre line but see
conjoined (also
coat of arms 2), entire
and impale).
![[dimidated flags]](../images/v/vxt-d115.gif)
From left: Flag of Nysa, Poland (fotw); Flag of the Cinque Ports, UK (Martin Grieve)
Please note, however, that where two sets of dimidiated arms or any
elements thereof are set side by side (as illustrated above), in heraldic terms they are said to be
impaled by dimidiation, and that (whilst this is often the case) one dimidiated charge, or set of
dimidiated arms, need not necessarily (as per the example below) be set beside another so
halved (see also conjoined).
![[dimidated flags]](../images/v/vxt-d-115a.gif)
Flag of Geneva, Switzerland (fotw)
- DIMIDIATION
- See dimidiated and following note above.
- DINNER FLAG
- In US usage the practice, almost certainly obsolete, of flying a white flag from the starboard
yardarm (or spreader) of a pleasure vessel when the owner is dining, and from the port
yardarm when the crew are at meals but see
meal pennant
(also guest on board flag,
owner absent flag and
yardarm).
Dinner Flag, US (fotw)
- DIPLOMATIC FLAGS
- Those distinguishing flags that are flown by the officers of a countrys diplomatic
services (consular or ambassadorial) either ashore or afloat - an ambassadorial,
ambassadors, consuls, consular or consular officers flag (see also
distinguishing flag 1).
![[diplomatic flags]](../images/v/vxt-d116.gif)
Ambassadors Flags UK. US and Thailand (fotw)
Please note that these flags are not generally flown outside embassies or consulates
(although they may be), but are more usually seen ashore as car flags, within
diplomatic premises and/or outside the residences of ambassadors or consuls, or they
may be flown from the main masthead of a vessel carrying a diplomatic or consular
officer when afloat (see also car flag,
main and
masthead).
- DIPPING
- 1) On parade, a method of saluting with a flag in which the staff is lowered
by inclining the staff forward then returning it to the original upright position,
with the degree of such lowering being governed by national regulations or custom,
and ranging from a slight inclination to dropping the head of the staff all the
way to the ground or vailing see vailing
(also colour 2),
colours 2),
'parade flag',
pike,
staff 2) and
trailing 1). When multiple flags are
carried, which (if any) are dipped in salute generally depends on the status of
the person or entity being saluted, dipping customs vary widely, however, and
in some countries, the national flag is never dipped, while in others it may be
dipped in salute to a head of state or other specified high dignitaries.
- 2) (v) At sea, a method of saluting with a flag whereby the ensign is lowered
about one width from the truck of the ensign staff (or one-third the length of
the halyard if flying at the gaff or yardarm) and then re-hoisted to its original
position (see also ensign,
ensign staff,
gaff,
halyard. and
yardarm).
- 3) See trailing.
Please note that a warship will never dip its ensign
to another vessel (whether warship or merchantman) but will invariably return
the salute when offered by a merchant vessel - a courtesy that (whilst formerly
given as a matter of course) is rarely seen today and that that warships only
return salutes from the ships of countries recognized by their own government.
Saluting between warships not wearing the flag of a flag officer or a broad pennant
is carried out by bosuns call or bugle, and when flag officers meet at sea they
salute each other with the appropriate number of guns, although usually only by
prior arrangement (see also
'flag of command',
flag officer,
gun salute and
private ship).
Please note also, that at sea a manoeuvring signal
will be dipped by the flagship when it has been acknowledged, and signifies that
the signal is to be executed, however, an answering pennant flown at the dip in
response to a hoist from the flagship, indicates that the signal is not understood
- an answering pennant flown close-up confirms that the signal has been received
and understood (see also close-up,
hoist 2) and
signal flag).
- DISC (or DISK)
- A circular area of single colour used as a charge (see also
charge and
roundel 2)).
Please note that a disc is called a roundel in heraldry.
- DISFIGURE
- (v) To add any unauthorised charge, device or wording to the field of a flag,
particularly when it is of an insulting or pejorative nature (see also
charge,
desecrate and
device and compare with
deface).
- DISTANCE LINE
- See hoistline.
- DISTINCTION JACK
- See privateer jack.
- DISTINGUISHING FLAG
- 1) The flag of a civil position within a governmental structure, as opposed
to that signifying military rank, as in for example, the distinguishing flag of
a Government minister (see also diplomatic flags).
- 2) An alternative term for a rank flag (see also
rank flag).
- 3) In US Air Force and Marine Corps usage, a flag denoting an officer's rank
see individual flag (also
flag of command,
personal flag 3) and
rank flag 1)).
- 4) In US military usage, the flag of a command or organization not authorized
to bear colours.
![[distinguishing flags]](../images/v/vxt-d117.gif)
From left: Minister of Defence, Argentina; Secretary for Defence
US; Minister of Defence Sweden (fotw)
Please note, that although these terms are sometimes
considered interchangeable, the Editors have drawn a general distinction between
the command flags used by senior naval officers, the rank flags employed by officers
from the other armed services, the distinguishing flags of civilians and with
personal flags.
- DISTINGUISHING (or DISTINCTIVE) MARK
- Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), this
is the mark that identifies a vessel's status as the warship or government
owned ship of a sovereign state, and thus operated for non-commercial
purposes.
Please note that this distinguishing mark is invariably
the ship's ensign, to lesser extent the masthead pennant and in some cases also
the jack (see also 'ensign'
'jack'
masthead pennant 1)) and
suit of colours).
- DISTINGUISHING PLATE
- See rank plate.
- DISTINGUISHING VANE
- In British RN and some other naval usage now obsolete, the term for a short
triangular pennant or large rectangular flag of different coloured panels, often
stiffened with a frame and sometimes flown (in addition to a masthead pennant) by
sailing warships to indicate (depending upon the masthead employed) the division
of a fleet to which they belonged or to identify individual ships within that
division (see also masthead and
masthead pennant 1)).
- DIVER BELOW (or DIVER DOWN) FLAG
- 1) Flag A (Alpha or Alfa) in the International Code of Signals, signifying that the vessel
flying the flag has a diver down and that vessels approaching should keep well clear and
proceed at slow speed (see also
International Code of Signal Flags and
signal flag).
- 2) In US and some other usage, a red flag with a white descending diagonal
stripe indicating that divers are below the surface in the immediate vicinity
of the flag.
|
![[diver below flags]](../images/v/vxt-d119.gif)
Signal Flag Alpha (CS)
|
![[diver below flags]](../images/v/vxt-d119a.gif)
Unofficial Warning Flag (CS)
|
Please note however, that while often referred to
as unofficial, use of 2) is required by law in most US states, and by law or regulation
in some other countries.
- DIVINE RATIO (or PROPORTIONS)
- See golden mean.
- DOUBLE COTTICED (or COTISED)
- See Appendix VII.
- DOUBLE-PAVON
- A term for the shape of the national flag of Nepal, which was apparently created by two
triangular pennants having been sewn together (see also pavon
and pennant 2)).
National Flag of Nepal (CS) Former Princely State of Dewas,
India (fotw)
Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors
since no established alternative could be found.
- DOUBLE-POINTED
- A term for that variation of the swallow-tailed flag where a vertical section appears
in the centre of the fly (see also splittflag and
swallow-tail(ed)).
![[Iceland]](../images/v/vxt-d527a.gif)
![[Aaland Islands yacht ensign]](../images/v/vxt-d527b.gif)
from left: The Yacht Ensign of Denmark (fotw); Flag of Iceland (CS); Yacht Ensign of the Aaland Is, Finland (CS)
- DOUBLE-PRINCE
- The term for a 17th Century Dutch naval flag usually (but not invariably) of six even, horizontal stripes
in the Dutch national colours repeated but see
triple-prince (also
princeflag and
tricolour 3))
![[double prince]](../images/v/vxt-d121.gif)
From left: Double Prince c1660 (CS); With Seven Stripes c1660 (fotw)
Please note however, whilst all available evidence
suggests that red, white and blue were employed, orange instead of red may
have been used at an earlier stage.
- DOUBLE-TAILED DESCATE
- (adj) A term used to describe a fly that is cut into two tails with rounded
ends a cloven bullnose (see also fly,
gonfanon,
guidon 2),
multi-tailed descate,
standard 4),
swallowtail and
triple-tailed descate).
![[double tailed descate]](../images/v/vxt-d123.gif)
Double-Tailed Descate (CS)
- DRACO
- A Roman military flag formed like a windsock whose open end was fixed to a dragons head with
gaping silver jaws (see also dragon flag
and windsock).
- DRACONARIUS
- A bearer of the draco.
- DRAGON FLAG
- 1) A pre-heraldic flag similar to the Roman Draco formed like a windsock, with
a dragons head/shape, and possibly having a whistling tube within it (see also
draco,
pre-heraldic,
'standard 6)' and
windsock).
- 2) The term for one of several varying designs of flag used in Imperial China
up to 1912 an imperial dragon flag.
![[imperial China dragon flag]](../images/v/vxt-d583.gif)
Chinese Imperial Flag c1890 (fotw)
Please note with regard to 1), it is suggested by
some authorities that the main standard used by the Saxons at the Battle of
Hastings (in 1066) was of this type.
- DRAPING
- (v) The decoration of a staff with a black cravat or long black ribbons (particularly
but not exclusively on flags that cannot be half-masted) as a sign of mourning but see
cravat 2)
(also cravat 1,
half-masted and
staff 2)).
- DRIEKLEUR
- See tricolour 3) (also
princeflag).
- DRESS FLAG
- See indoor flag.
- DRESS KNOT
- A decorative knot of cord, possibly displaying the national colours or braided
in gold with blue thread, and attached to the sword a port epee or sword knot.
- DRESS SHIP, TO
- 1) (v) Generally, the practice of decorating a naval vessel for special occasions, such as
national days, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by stringing dressing lines
between the masts (and down to the ensign and jack staffs), and with national
flags at the mastheads - dressing ship, dressing overall or full dressing (see
also 'national flag',
'dressing lines'
'ensign staff',
'jack staff' and
'masthead').
- 2) (v) Specifically, in US naval usage, the practice of decorating a warship during lesser
commemorative occasions, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by displaying
the ensign and jack together with an ensign at each masthead, but without the
dressing lines but see 'dressing overall 2)' (see also
'dressing lines',
'masthead',
'naval ensign' under 'ensign' and
'naval jack' under 'jack').
- 3) (v) Specifically in British Royal Navy and some other naval usage, the practice of decorating
a warship with jack, ensign and masthead flags/ensign(s) but without the dressing lines, when
underway within sight of a port or anchorage during dress ship occasions but see
'dressing overall 3)'.
- 4) (v) The practice of merchant vessels (especially passenger liners) and
yachts to decorate themselves with strings of dressing lines on special occasions
such as maiden voyage departure and arrival, or on other occasions ordered by the
shipping company or club.
![[dressing ship example]](../images/v/vxt-d611.gif)
A Warship of the South African Navy Dressed Overall (Andries Burgers)
Please note that warships not directly involved
in the occasion being celebrated, but who are berthed in the presence or in sight
of ships that are, will also dress as a courtesy according to the local practice,
using the ensign or national flag of the celebrant at the main masthead in lieu
of their own ensign or national flag.
Please note also that this is a continuation of
the earlier maritime practice (dating from at least the 16th Century) of hanging
out every flag available by way of celebration, but that in modern navies and
some merchant marine companies both the occasions for display and the make-up
of dressing lines is strictly regulated (with this last being confined to signal
flags only).
- DRESSING LINES
- Signal flags and pennants made up in decorative strings according to the size
and configuration of ship they are to be used on and also according to ordered
patterns laid down by naval authorities in the case of warships, or commercial
companies in the case of merchant vessels rainbow lines (see also
dress ship, to 1),
dress ship, to 4) and
dressing overall).
- DRESSING (or DRESSED) OVERALL
- 1) See dress ship, to 1) and
dress ship, to 4).
- 2) (v or adj) In US naval usage the practice of decorating a vessel for major
commemorative occasions, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by stringing dressing
lines between the masts (and down to the ensign and jack staffs), and with a jack and
ensign at the bow and stern, and national flags at the mastheads but see
dress ship, to 2).
- 3) (v or adj) In British Royal Navy and some other usage decorating a vessel for
commemorative occasions, whilst berthed alongside or at anchor, by stringing dressing
lines between the masts (and down to the ensign and jack staffs), and with a jack and
ensign at the bow and stern, and national flags at the mastheads but see
dress ship, to 3).
- DRESSING SHIP
- SSee dress ship, to 1) and
dress ship, to 4).
- DRUM BANNER
- See bannerette and
war banner.
