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Dictionary of Vexillology: P (Pierced - Pushpit Flag Staff)

Last modified: 2008-01-05 by phil nelson
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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PIERCED
The heraldic term for when a charge (such as a quatrefoil or mullet) has a hole in its centre (see also ‘quatrefoil 2’, ‘star 2)’ and ‘voided’).

pierced example

PIGSTICK
See ‘truck 2)’.
PIKE
In British and some other military usage the staff upon which an infantry colour is carried (see also 'colour 2)', ‘colours 2)’ and ‘staff 2)’).

Please note that the term is derived from the long-shafted spear with which a proportion of infantry were formerly armed, and whilst the term is still applied, the staff may often no longer have a spear point, but may carry a finial of some other design.

PILE
1) On flags, a triangular charge whose base generally occupies the full length or width of a flag, and whose apex touches the centre of its opposite edge. When the apex is on the fly it may be called a simple pile, with the apex on the hoist a reversed pile, with the apex on the top edge an upright pile and with the apex on the bottom edge of the flag an inverted pile (see also ‘reversed’, ‘triangle’) and ‘upright’).
2) In heraldry, an elongated triangular charge of no specific width (although it is sometimes stipulated that the pile should be one-third the width of the shield or banner of arms) and is generally (although not invariably) placed with the point downwards.

[flags with pile]
National Flag of Eritrea (fotw)

[flags with pile]
Flag of Houvet, Belgium (fotw)

[flags with pile]
National Flag of Antigua-Barbuda (CS)

[pile]

Please note, however, that on flags a pile whose apex and base do not touch opposite edges of the flag should be considered a triangle (see also ‘triangle’).

PILGRIMAGE PENNANT (or FLAG)
A small triangular pennant, or occasionally a handwaver size flag, purchased as the souvenir of a spiritual (usually Roman Catholic) pilgrimage, religious festival or special place of worship, and often made from paper (see also ‘handwaver’).
PILOT FLAG
That flag which is flown by a vessel requiring or carrying a pilot, now either G for Golf (if requiring a pilot) or H for Hotel (if under pilotage) from the International Code of Signal Flags  (see also ‘International Code of Signal Flags’ and ‘signal flag’).

[pilot flags]
From left: Signal Flag Golf (CS); Signal Flag Hotel (CS); Former Pilot Flag of Belgium (CS)

Please note however, that many countries originally had their own designs for pilot flags, of which the UK version - that is the national flag with a white border - is typical of the type and a rare survival (see ‘civil jack’ under ‘jack’ and ‘pilot jack’). See supplemental note:

PILOT JACK
In UK usage, originally a name for the national pilot flag, now an alternative name for the civil jack (see ‘civil jack’ under ‘jack’, ‘pilot flag’ and ‘union jack’).

[a pilot jack]
UK Pilot Jack (fotw)

PINSEL (or PINCEL)
A triangular pennant used by the authorized representative of a Scottish clan chief in that person’s absence. It has a solid field and is 0.60 x 1.35m long, it is generally charged with the grantee’s crest within an annulet or ring (surmounted by a coronet or bonnet dependent upon rank), and the grantee’s motto (see also ‘annulet’ and ‘ring’).
PIPE BANNER
See ‘bannerette’.
PIRATE FLAG
See 'jolly roger'.
PLAIN
1) See ‘undefaced’.
2) On flags, the term that is applied to a flag which has monochrome field, or to a bicolour, tricolour, triband or multi-stripe which carries no charges other than its stripes, or to an undecorated border consisting of a single colour (see also ‘bicolour 1) & 2)’, ‘border’, ‘charge 1) & 2)’, ‘multi-stripe 1) - 4)’, ‘triband 1) & 2)’ and ‘tricolour 1) & 2)’).
3) In heraldry the term is sometimes used to describe a simple charge when it is displayed in the same quarter of a coat of arms with another which is decorated or in some way altered – for example a plain chevron may be surrounded by an engrailed border (see also ‘bordure’, ‘charge 1)’, ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘chevron 1)’, ‘engrailed’ and ‘quarter 2)’).
POINTED (or POINT-IN-POINT)
A heraldic term for when the division of a shield forms a chevron – usually with curved sides - at its base - point in point or enty (see also ‘base’, ‘chevron 1)’and ‘shield 1)’)

Pointed example
Flag and Arms of North Rhine – Westphalia, Germany (CS)

POLE
See ‘flag pole’.
POLE MAST
A flagpole that is straight and clear of any projections such as cross bars, yards, or gaffs (see also ‘cross bar’, ‘flag pole’, ‘gaff’ and ‘yard’).

Please note that this term was originally introduced to describe a mast or masts on those steam vessels not equipped with an auxiliary sailing rig.

POLITICAL FLAG
1) The flag, either official (formally adopted) or unofficial (spontaneously displayed by supporters), of a political party or movement (see also ‘"tribal flag’).
2) A flag, as opposed to a banner as defined herein, that is specifically designed to express a political or popular sentiment - a protest flag (see also ‘banner 3)’).

[political flags] [political flags]
From left: African National Congress, RSA; American Indian Movement, USA; Communist Party, UK; Polish Independence Movement Solidarity 1980’s (fotw)

PORT EPEE
See ‘dress knot’.
PORTOLANO
The term for a navigational chart of the 14th to the 16th Centuries, particularly showing coastlines and ports and usually bearing illustrations of their arms and flags.
POSITION OF HONOUR (OR HONOR)
The position in which the most senior flag, emblem or coat of arms – usually a national flag, emblem or coat of arms - is to be placed. The particulars vary slightly in detail, legal status and extent from country to country; however, the general principles remain the same and are listed in Appendix II (see also ‘rules of etiquette’ and ‘precedence’).
POSITIONAL FLAG
1) In US army usage, that flag which corresponds to a particular position held, rather than to the rank of the officer who currently holds it – but see ‘appointment flag’ (also ‘rank flag 1)’).
2) See ‘distinguishing flag 1)’.

[positional flag example]
Army Surgeon General, US (fotw)

POST FLAG
1) In US military usage, that size of national flag flown regularly over army posts - 10 feet (3 m) wide by 19 feet (5.8 m) long (see also ‘garrison flag’, ‘storm flag’ and ‘war flag’).
2) See ‘postal flag’ below.
POSTAL FLAG (or ENSIGN)
The distinguishing flag of a country’s postal services – a mail flag or post flag (see also ‘mail pennant).

[postal flag - Denmark]
Postal Flag and Ensign of Denmark (fotw)

POSTAL (or POSTAL) PENNANT
See ‘mail pennant’.
POSTURES
A 16th/17th Century term for the formal flag waving expected of a colour bearer for reasons of either bravado or dignity (see also ‘colour 2)’, ‘colour bearer’, ‘company colours’, ‘ensign 4)’, ‘flag tossing’ and ‘stand 1)’).
POW-MIA (PRISONER OF WAR-MISSING IN ACTION) FLAG
See ‘memorial flag 2)’.
PRATIQUE FLAG
See ‘quarantine flag’.
PRAYER FLAG
A small flag, often used in groups and decorated with inscriptions, intended to express a prayer as it flies – characteristic of Buddhists in the Himalayan region (see also ‘thangka’ and ‘religious flag’).
PRECEDENCE
The system often regulated by law, of placing flags, emblems or coats of arms for a display or ceremony in order of importance – for more details see ‘Appendix II’, ‘rules of etiquette’ and ‘position of honour’ (also ‘flag code’ and ‘flag law’).
PRE-HERALDIC
A term that relates to European flags which do not contain any elements derived from heraldry and/or which pre-date the introduction of heraldic symbolism. (see also ‘anti-heraldry’, ‘dragon flag’, ‘flammula 2)’, ‘gonfanon’ and ‘heraldry’).
PRESIDENTIAL (or PRESIDENT’S) COLOUR (or COLOR)
1) See ‘colour 2)’ and ‘colours 2)’.
2) In largely US usage, a term for the distinguishing flag of a president when displayed indoors or on parade (see ‘presidential standard’ below).
PRESIDENTIAL STANDARD (or FLAG)
That flag which symbolizes the office of president in a republican system of government, often a defaced or decorated version of the national flag (see also ‘deface’, ‘national flag’ and ‘royal standard’).

[presidential standards]
USA Presidential Standard (fotw)

[presidential standards]
Chile Presidential Standard (fotw)

PRINCELY BONNET (CORONET or HAT)
See ‘coronet 2)’.

Liechtenstein
National Flag of Liechtenstein bearing a Princely Bonnet (fotw)

PRINCEFLAG (PRINCE FLAG, PRINCE’S FLAG, PRINSENVLAG or PRINZENVLAG)
The name originally applied to the orange-white-blue horizontal tricolour that was the first pattern of Dutch national flag, the driekleur, and in use from c1575 – c1654/1660 – the prinsenvlag or prinzenvlag (see also ‘double-prince’, ‘triple-prince’ and ‘tricolour 3)’).

Netherlands 1575-1654/60
National Flag of the Netherlands c1575 – c1654/1660 (CS)

Please note, evidence indicates that until the late 18th Century the terms prinsenflag or prinzenvlag were sometimes also applied to the red-white-blue tricolour.

PRIVATE SHIP
In British RN and some other naval usage, a vessel in commission that does not fly the flag of a flag officer or broad pennant of a commodore (see also ‘broad pennant’, ‘flag of command’, ‘flag officer’, ‘flagship’ and ‘masthead pennant 1)’).
PRIVATE SIGNAL
1) See ‘call sign’ and ‘call sign hoist’.
2) See ‘house flag 3)’.
3) A naval term, now obsolete, for a confidential signal used by ships of the same navy to verify each other's identity (see also ‘make her number’).
PRIVATEER JACK
In UK usage, a special jack for vessels engaged in privateering and flown from 1694 until 1856 – the distinction jack or budgee jack (see also ‘budgee flag’, ‘budgee pendant’, ‘jack’ and ‘union jack 2)’).

[privateer jack]
Privateer Jack Until 1801, UK (CS)

PRIZE FLAG
A special flag flown by a yacht that has won a race (see also ‘racing flag’).
PROCESSIONAL BANNER
See ‘banner 3)’.
PROPER
(adj) A heraldic term for an object - a plant or animal for example – that is shown in its natural form and colours as opposed to being stylized (see also ‘Appendix IV’).
PROPORTIONS
1) The relationship between the width and length of a flag, usually expressed in that order that is, for example 1:2, but sometimes also in the reverse or 2:1 (see also dimensions', ‘length’ and ‘width’)
2) The relative dimensions of two or more stripes or bands within a flag, (whether disposed vertically horizontally or diagonally) - internal proportions (see also ‘optical proportions’ and ‘stripe’).

proportions example

PROTEST BANNER
See ‘banner 3)’ (also ‘political flag 2)’).
PROTEST FLAG
See political flag 2)’.
PROVINCIAL FLAG
See ‘sub-national flag’ and ‘state flag 2)’.
PSEUDO-FLAG
See ‘fictitious flag’ (also ‘flagoid’ and ‘fictional flag’).
PULLDOWN (or PULL-DOWN)
In US usage a flag (or bunting in flag colours) that is displayed flat against a wall for decoration - an advertising pulldown (see also ‘bunting 2)’.
PULLEY
See ‘sheaved block’.
PURPURE
A heraldic term for the colour purple (see also ‘Appendix III’ and ‘rule of tincture’).
PUSHPIT FLAG STAFF
A 19th Century term, now almost certainly obsolete, for the stern mounted ensign staff of a sailing yacht (see also ‘ensign staff’).

Please note that pushpit (also called a stern pulpit) is nautical slang for that railing which encloses the stern of a sailing yacht.

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