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Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Canadian Pale - Captured Flag)

On this page:

CANADIAN PALE
CANTABRIAN LABARUM
CANTABRARII
CANTABRUM
CANTING
CANTON
CANTONAL ARMS
CANTONAL FLAG (or BANNER)
CANTONAL TRIANGLE
CANTONED
CANTON FLAG
CANTON OF ST. GEORGE
CANTONED CROSS
CAP BADGE
CAP OF LIBERTY
CAPPELINE
CAPTAIN'S COLOUR (or COLOR)
CAPTURED FLAG

CANADIAN PALE

A term used when the central stripe in a vertical triband has internal proportions of 1-2-1 as in the Canadian national flag – but see note below and ‘unequal triband’ (also ‘proportions 2)’, ‘pale’, ‘triband’ and ‘tricolour’).

National Flag of Canada (fotw); Flag of North West Territories, Canada (fotw); Flag of Brantford, Canada (fotw); Flag of Kelowna, Canada (fotw)

Please note, it is suggested that the entry on pale and/or a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted before using this term, and that if used at all it should apply only to Canadian Flags.

CANTABRIAN LABARUM

The flag of the Cantabrian independence movement showing a wheel-like emblem that is considered symbolic of the ancient Cantabrians of Northern Spain.

The Cantabrian Labarum (fotw)

CANTABRARII

Bearers of the ‘cantabrum’.

CANTABRUM

An ancient Roman cavalry standard of uncertain configuration - but see note below.

Please note - not to be confused with a cantabrian labarum, although, this is believed (by some sources) to be a later interpretation of the ancient design - (see 'cantabrian labarum').

CANTING

A heraldic term used when the design on a shield or any quartering thereof, on a banner of arms or a flag forms a pun on the name or attributes of the entity or person represented – allusive or punning arms or armes parlantes (see also ‘armorial bearings’).

Flag and Arms of Brodski Stupnik, Croatia fotw); Flag of Bila Tserkva, Ukraine (fotw), Arms and Flag of Greifensee, Switzerland (Wikipedia & fotw)

Notes
a) Stup is the Croatian for column.
b) Bila Tserkva means white church in Ukrainian.
c) The German for griffon is Greif.

CANTON

1) Commonly, all or part of the upper hoist – or first - quarter of a flag’s field that has not vertical divisions and/or otherwise undivided - the canton (see also ‘Appendix I’, ‘inner canton’ and ‘quarter 1)’).

2) A rectangular (or square) area of colour or design different from the field in the above position, which may occupy exactly one quarter of the flag or a larger or smaller area (see also ‘canton flag’ below, ‘covering’, ‘quarter 1)’ and 'Union’).

3) One of the four quarters of a flag, divided horizontally and vertically into: (1) the upper hoist or upper hoist canton, (2) the upper fly or upper fly canton, (3) the lower hoist or lower hoist canton and (4) the lower fly or lower fly canton corresponding to quarters one to four of a shield divided quarterly (see also ‘Appendix I’, ‘grand quarter’, ‘quarter 2)’, ‘quarterly’, ‘hoist’ and ‘fly’).

4) In heraldry as definition 2) except (although apparently of no fixed size) heraldic use frequently suggests that a canton should occupy one-third of the chief (see also ‘cantoned 1)’ and ‘chief’).

National Flag of Liechtenstein (fotw); National Flag of Taiwan (fotw); Flag of Kelantan, Malaysia (fotw)

Please note that “canton” is also the title by which the major sub-divisions of several countries (states, counties etc.) are known (see also ‘cantonal arms’ and ‘cantonal flag’).

Flag of Schwyz canton, Switzerland (fotw)

CANTONAL ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)

The arms of a territorial division within a country, particularly if that subdivision is called a canton – e.g., one of those cantons (regions) that make up the Swiss Confederation, or those of Bosnia-Herzegovina or Costa Rica - see ‘state arms 3)’ under ‘arms’ (also ‘cantonal flag’).

Arms of Bern, Switzerland (Wikipedia); Arms of Posavina, Bosnia-Herzegovina (fotw); Arms of Buenos Aires, Costa Rica (Zeljko Heimer & fotw)

CANTONAL FLAG (or BANNER)

The sub-national flag of a territorial division within a country, particularly if that subdivision is is called a canton - e.g. one of the cantons which make up the Swiss Confederation, or of Bosnia-Herzegovina or Costa Rica (see also ‘cantonal arms’ and ‘sub-national flag’).

Flag of Bern, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Posavina, Bosnia-Herzegovina (fotw); Flag of Buenos Aires, Costa Rica (fotw)

CANTONAL TRIANGLE

The newly introduced term for a right-angled, triangular panel set with its legs (or catheti) along the hoist and upper edge of a flag as illustrated below – but see ‘triangular panel 1)’.

Unit Colour 67th Military Police Battalion, Croatia (Željko Heimer); Flag of Imues, Columbia (fotw)

CANTONED CROSS

In heraldry see ‘cross cantonée’.

Flag and Arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem c1200 (CS & Wikipedia)

CANTONED (or CANTONEÉ)

1) See ‘cross cantonée’ (also ‘canton 4)’).

2) A heraldic term sometimes (incorrectly) used to describe a charge or charges set in the cantons of a shield that does not carry a cross or saltire - cantonée (see also ‘saltire’).

Example; Flag of Précigné, France (fotw); Arms of Figueiró dos Vinhos, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Iracemápolis, Brazil (fotw)

CANTON FLAG

1) A term used to describe the canton of a flag, or to describe the flag itself, when its canton consists of another flag, as in for example, those examples illustrated below – a nationally cantoned flag (see also ‘armorial ensign 2)’, ‘British style ensign’, ‘canton 2)’, ‘canton of St. George’, ‘civil ensign’ under ‘ensign’ and ‘colonial flag’).

2) See ‘cantonal flag’.

Civil Ensign of India (fotw); War Ensign of Brunei (fotw); Flag of the Island of Nevis, St Kitts and Nevis (fotw)

CANTON OF ST. GEORGE

The term used when a flag’s canton is formed by the red cross of St George on its white field – a St George’s canton (see also ‘canton 2)’, ‘canton flag’, ‘St George’s Cross 2)’ and ‘St. George's ensign’.

Some English Ensigns c1625 – 1707 (fotw)

CAP BADGE

See ‘badge 3)’.

Cap Badge of the Grenadier Guards, UK (Wikipedia)

CAP OF LIBERTY

An ancient symbol in the form of a soft red cap which, as a consequence of having been adopted by various revolutionary movements during the 18th century, has come to be regarded as a symbol of resistance against monarchical or imperialist oppression – a liberty, Phrygian or Scythian cap.

Presidential Flag Afloat, Current National Emblem, and the Flag of the Army of the Andes 1817-18, Argentina (fotw)

CAPPELINE