^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Dictionary of Vexillology: D (Daimyo Flags - Dentelé)

On this page:

DAIMYO FLAGS (or DAIMO FLAGS)
DANCETTY (or DANCETTÉ)
DANGER FLAG
DANNEBROG
DE FACTO
DE JURE
DEBASED
DEBRUISED
DECK FLAGS
DECKING
DECOMMISSIONING PENNANT
DECORATED
DECORATIVE KNOT
DECRESCENT (or DECREMENT
DEFACE
DEFACED
DEMI (or DEMY)
DEMONSTRATION BANNER
DENTELÉ (or DENTILLY)

DAIMYO FLAGS (or DAIMO FLAGS)

1) Generically, a term for those flags that were in use prior to the Japanese Imperial restoration of 1868/71 – a nobobi, hata-sashimono / sashimono and/or uma-jirushi – but see notes below (also (also ‘hinomaru’ and ‘mon’)

2) Specifically, a term that refers to the personal and war flags of Japanese feudal lords, and in use until the 17th Century.

Notes
a) With regard to 1), the varying types of (historical) Japanese flag are in the process of detailed classification, and the terms given above have been limited to those in general use.
b) The“sashimono” and “uma-jirushi”, whilst currently employed to describe flags, can also refer to a vexilloid - see ‘vexilloid 2)’.

DANCETTY (or DANCETTÉ)

The heraldic term used when an ordinary such as a fess, bend or pale, or the line of a division, or a border on a shield, banner of arms or flag, is saw-toothed – dancetté, dentelé or dentilly - but see ‘indented’ and ‘serrated’ (also ‘ordinary’, ‘stepped’ and ‘wolfteeth’).

Flag - Tetouan 1968 – 76, Morocco
Arms of Poiares e Canelas, Portugal (fotw); Flag and Arms of Nazaré, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Castro de Filabres, Spain (fotw); Flag of Tetouan 1968–76, Morocco (fotw)

DANGER FLAG

See ‘red flag 1)’.

DANNEBROG

Literally “Danish-cloth”, and the national flag of Denmark. (see also ‘splittflag’)

National Flag of Denmark (fotw)

DE FACTO

1. (adj) A generally employed Latin term for ‘in practice’, and used in vexillology to indicate flags in actual use as opposed to those as laid down by law or regulation (see also ‘de jure’ and the note below).

2. (adj) A term sometimes employed to describe a flag which is in use, but which has not been officially established by law or regulation – but see note below de jure (also ‘unofficial flag’).

The Reverse of the National Flag of Saudi Arabia in some De Facto use, and as regulated (fotw); the Reverse of the National Flag of Saudi Arabia as regulated; National Flag of Zimbabwe in some De Facto use, and as regulated.

DE JURE

(adj) A generally employed Latin term for ‘in law’, and used in vexillology to indicate a flag as laid down by law or regulation, as opposed to those in actual use (see also ‘flag law’, ‘de facto’, ‘official flag 1)’, ‘specification sheet’, and the notes below).

Notes
a) It is suggested that the above terms should not be used when describing a flag for which no known official specifications exist, therefore, no de jure design from which a de facto flag may differ, and under these circumstances we recommend that the term “variant” be employed - see ‘variant 2)’.
b) An example of de jure as opposed to de facto is the proportions of the Belgian national flag which is regulated at 13:15, but which is most often see in practice with the civil ensign ratio of 2:3.

National Flag of Belgium as regulated, plus the Civil Ensign of Belgium as regulated (which is also the de facto National Flag); National Flag of the Vatican as regulated, and the unofficial 2:3 version actually flown

DEBASED

An alternative heraldic term to reversed - see ‘reversed 2)’.

Example; Flag and Arms of Rennebu, Norway (fotw)

DEBRUISED

A heraldic term used in place of ‘surmounted by’ particularly when a charge or ordinary (which may or may not touch the field) is being placed over an animal – but see ‘surmounted, by’ (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘overall 2)’).

Flag and Arms of Alto do Seixalinho, Portugal (fotw); Flag of L’Abbaye, Switzerland (fotw)

DECK FLAGS

A term to describe the practice, now obsolete, of showing a display of flags along the deck of a ship as illustrated below – see ‘pavisade’ and ‘streamer 2)’ (also ‘ancient’ and ‘postures’).

The Salamander, English Royal Navy c1525 (Wikipedia)

DECKING

A term for the custom of foot guards in British and Canadian service of placing a garland or chaplet of laurel – a crown triumphal - at the top of the regimental colour pike or staff on days of significance in regimental history (see also ‘colour 2), ‘colours 2)’, ‘crown triumphal’, ‘garland’, ‘pike’, ‘staff 2)’ and ‘wreath of immortelles’).

DECOMMISSIONING PENNANT

See ‘paying off pennant’.

DECORATED

In heraldry see ‘garnished’.

Flag and Arms of Častrov, Czechia (fotw)

DECORATIVE KNOT

See ‘wattle(d) 1)’, ‘sword knot’ and the note below.

A Stafford Knot (Wikipedia); Flag of Staffordshire, UK (fotw); Flag of FIAV (fotw)

Please note that the several types of decorative knot used in heraldry are rarely used on flags, so are beyond the remit of this dictionary, and we suggest that a suitable source be consulted if further details are required.

DECRESCENT (or DECREMENT)

In heraldry see ‘moon 2)’ with following note.

Flag and Arms of Schinznach Dorf, Switzerland (fotw & Wikipedia)

DEFACE

1. (v) In UK usage and some others, a term for the addition of any authorised (or apparently authorized) emblem, badge, shield, charge or device to a flag (see also ‘badge’, ‘charge’, 'defaced', 'device', ‘emblem’ ‘shield’, ‘template flag’ and ‘undefaced’).

2. (v) In US usage and some others, the term may also be used to include any unauthorized addition – but see note below.

Ensign of the Training Ship Foudroyant c1817 – 1897 (fotw); Flag of the British Virgin Islands (fotw); Canadian Red Ensign 1957 – 1965 (fotw); Civil Ensign of New Zealand (fotw)

Please note that in heraldry and vexillology the term has no pejorative connotation (but see also ‘desecrate’ and/or ‘disfigure’).

DEFACED

(adj) In UK usage and in some others the term used to describe a flag which is often flown plain, but in this case is seen with an authorized addition (see also ‘blue ensign’, ‘deface 1)’, ‘red ensign’, ‘template flag’, ‘undefaced’ and ‘warrant’).

Defaced – Government Service Ensign, UK; Undefaced – Reserve Ensign, UK (fotw); Defaced – Royal St George Yacht Club, UK, Undefaced – Civil Ensign, UK (fotw)

DEMI (or DEMY)

The heraldic term used when the front or upper part of an animal, or of another charge is shown on a shield, banner of arms or a flag but see the notes below – demy or semi.

Flag of Romoos, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Langenhagen, Germany (fotw); Flag and Arms of Pardubice, Czechia (fotw); Flag of Bleckmar, Germany (fotw)

Notes
a) One-half of an animal or other charge that is placed against the vertical centre line of a shield, banner of arms or a flag, is said to be ‘dimidiated’, whilst any such emerging from side of a shield, banner of arms or flag should be termed ‘naissant’ as illustrated below.
b) This term is never used alone, but always with the charge being so described – for example a demi-horse as shown above.

Flag and Arms of Krásné Pole, Czechia (fotw); Flag of Kalbe upon Milde, Germany (fotw)

DEMONSTRATION BANNER

See ‘banner 3)’.

DENTELÉ (or DENTILLY)

Alternative heraldic terms for dancetty - see ‘dancetty’ (also ‘serrated’).

Arms and Flag of Rastede, Germany (Wikipedia & fotw)

Introduction | Table of Contents | Index of Terms | Previous Page | Next Page