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Dictionary of Vexillology: I (In Abeyance - Inflamed)

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IN ABEYANCE
IN ANNULO
IN BASE
IN BEND
IN BEND SINISTER
IN CHIEF
IN COMMISSION
IN FESS
IN PALE
IN PALL
IN SALTIRE
INACTIVE
INCENSED
INCLINED FLY
INCRESCENT (or INCREMENT)
INDENTED
INDENTED EDGE
INDENTATION(S)
INDIVIDUAL FLAG.
INDOOR FLAG
INESCUTCHEON
INFLAMED

IN ABEYANCE

The term used when a flag or office is no longer in current use, but which may be re-introduced at some future date – see the second note following ‘flag captain’; also ‘broad command pennant 2)’ and ‘rank flag 1)’).

Rank Flag of a Marshal of France (fotw); Former First Class Commodore’s Broad Pennant, UK

Please note that two examples would be the rank flag of Marshal of France (which office has no extant holder) and the broad pennant of a commodore first class (a rank in abeyance since 1958.

IN ANNULO

The heraldic term used when a series of objects are set equidistant around a central point – see ‘annulet’ (also ‘rosette’).

Flag and Arms of Ulvik, Norway (fotw); Flag and Arms of Bindal, Norway (fotw)

IN BASE

The heraldic term used when a charge or charges appear in the lower part of a shield, banner of arms or flag – see ‘base 1)’ (also ‘abased’, ‘banner of arms’, and ‘shield’).

IN BEND

The heraldic term used when an object, charge or charges on a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof are placed diagonally from top left to bottom right across the field – but see ‘bendwise 2) (also ‘banner of arms’, ‘bend’, and ‘per bend’ and ‘quartering 1)’).

Flag and Arms of Høyanger, Norway (fotw); Banner of Arms and Arms of Surrey, UK (fotw); Flag of Nidfurn, Switzerland (fotw)

IN BEND SINISTER

The heraldic term used when an object, charge or charges on a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof are placed diagonally from bottom left to top left right across the field – but see ‘bendwise 2) (also ‘banner of arms’, ‘bend sinister’, ‘per bend sinister’ and ‘quartering 1)’).

In bend
Arms and Flag of Luzein, Switzerland (Wikipedia & fotw); Arms and Flag of Duplek, Slovenia (fotw); Flag of Wolfenchiessen, Switzerland (fotw)

IN CHIEF

1) The heraldic term used when a charge or charges appear in the upper part of a shield, banner of arms or flag – see ‘chief’ (also ‘banner of arms’, ‘enhanced’ and ‘shield’).
2) In English naval usage now obsolete, a term officially employed to describe a charge placed in the upper hoist canton – see ‘canton 2)’.

Example; English Red Ensign c1625 – 1707 (fotw)

IN COMMISSION

In British RN, USN and some other usage, the phrase used to describe a warship that is active, manned and ready for combat – see ‘masthead pennant 1)’.

Commissioning Pennant of South Africa (fotw)

IN FESS

The heraldic term used when an object, charge or charges on a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof appear in a horizontal position – but see ‘fesswise 2)’ and the note below (also ‘banner of arms’, ‘fess’, ‘per fess’ and ‘quartering 1)’).

Flag and Arms of Bilje, Croatia (fotw); Flag of the Comité d'action francophone Pontiac, Canada (fotw); Flag of Caernarfonshire, UK (fotw)

Please note charges can be arranged in fess but orientated palewise as per the examples below, with would be blazoned as “…three shovels palewise in fess”’

Flag and Arms of Siljan, Norway (fotw)

IN PALE

The heraldic term used when an object, charge or charges on a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof appear in a vertical position – but see ‘palewise 2)’ (also ‘banner of arms’, ‘pale’, and ‘per pale’ and ‘quartering 1)’).

Flag and Arms of Stankovci, Croatia (fotw); Flag of West-Friesland, The Netherlands (fotw); Arms of Astrakhan, Russia (fotw); Arms Banner of Arms of the Ordnance Board 1804 – c1960, UK (fotw)

IN PALL

The heraldic term used when the charges on a shield, a banner of arms or a flag are arranged in the form of a pall – see ‘pall 2)’ and ‘per pall’.

Flag and Arms of Sor-Odal, Norway (fotw); Flag of Ebikon, Switzerland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Masfjorden, Norway (fotw)

IN SALTIRE

The heraldic term used when two separate objects or charges are placed across each other diagonally on a flag, shield or banner of arms - saltirewise (see also ‘banner of arms’, ‘saltire’ and ‘per saltire’.

Proposed Flag of Virton, Belgium (fotw); Arms and Flag of Babimost, Poland (fotw); Arms of Quintela de Azurara, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland (fotw)

INACTIVE

In vexillology a term that may be used to describe when the rays of a star or sun emblem, or a radiating stripe, are straight-edged – see ‘active’ (also ‘active and inactive’, ‘radiating’, ‘rays 1)’ and ‘star’ and its following note, ‘sun emblem’ and ‘sunburst’).

Flag of Groot-Ammers, Netherlands (fotw); Flag of Sarawak, Malaysia (fotw); National Flag of Antigua-Barbuda (fotw); Flag of Bodø, Norway (fotw)

INCENSED

1) The heraldic term for when a wild beast has fire issuing from its mouth or eyes.

2) A term sometimes incorrectly used in place of ‘inflamed’ – see ‘inflamed’.

Arms and Flag of Gorlice, Poland (fotw)

Please note with regard to 1) that only a wild beast should be described as “incensed”, and that other charges are “inflamed”.

INCLINED FLY

A term used when the fly of a flag is cut diagonally so that the upper length of the flag is greater than its lower length – a type largely limited to Central Europe (see also ‘length 1)’, ‘schwenkel’ and ‘swallow-tail(ed)’).

Flag of Jarocin County, Poland (fotw); Flag of Pleszew County, Poland (fotw); Flag of Janów Lubelski County, Poland (fotw)

Please note that this is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors since no suitable (or suitably descriptive) alternative could be found.

INCRESCENT (or INCREMENT)

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

Arms and Flag of Oron-la-ville, Switzerland (Wikipedia & fotw)

INDENTED

1) The heraldic term used when the edge of an ordinary or the partition line on a shield, banner of arms or flag is notched as in ‘dancetty’ but with smaller/narrower teeth - endented.
2) See ‘embattled’).

Example (Parker); Flag of Munxar, Malta (fotw); Arms and Flag of Maximinos Commune, Braga, Portugal (fotw)

INDENTED EDGE

See ‘scalloped 1)’.

Two Merchant Flags, Portugal 16th/17th Century (fotw)

INDENTATION(S)

A term that may be used to describe the shape remaining at the fly of a flag or pennant where that fly has been cut into two or more tails - see ‘swallow-tail(ed)’ (also ‘hussar cut’, ‘palm’, ‘pennant 2)’, ‘swallow-tail and tongue’ and ‘tongues’).

INDIVIDUAL FLAG.

In U.S. army usage, the flag denoting an officer's rank – see ‘rank flag 1)’ (also ‘distinguishing flag 3)’, ‘flag of command’ and ‘personal flag 4)’).

Individual/Rank Flag of a Brigadier General, US Army (fotw)

INDOOR FLAG

A flag made expressly for display inside a building and sometimes fringed. It is often made from more costly materials, is enhanced by embroidered detail, and is fitted with a sleeve for attachment to a staff – a dress flag or flag of ceremony (see also ’ceremonial flag 1)’, ‘cord’, ‘embroider’, ‘flag spreader’, ‘fringe’, ‘sleeve 2)’, ‘staff 2)’ and ‘tassels’).

Indoor Flag of The Secretary of Agriculture, US (fotw); Indoor Flag of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, US (fotw); Indoor Flag of The Secretary of The Interior, US (fotw)

INESCUTCHEON

The heraldic term for one shield appearing within another (usually – but not invariably - at its centre point) – a heart shield – but see notes below (also ‘banner of arms’, ‘coat of arms’ ‘escutcheon’, ‘escutcheon of pretence 1)’, ‘escutcheon of pretence 2)’, ‘overall’ and ‘quartering 1)’).

Royal Standard 1700 – 1759, Spain (fotw); Arms and Flag of Varaždin County, Croatia (fotw); Arms and Flag of Almeria Province, Spain (fotw)

Notes
a) Please note that some heraldic sources propose that this term should also be used when more than one shield appears within another, but it is suggested that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary should be consulted for further information.
b) However, one further (authoritative) source states that an inescutcheon should be placed on or near the fess-point, and that the term “escutcheon” be used for any that are seen in another position – see ‘honour-point 2)’.

INFLAMED

The heraldic term used when a charge is shown with flames coming from it – ardent, enflamed or flamed – but see ‘incensed 1)’ (also ‘flamant’).

Flag and Arms of Gornja Stubica, Croatia (fotw); Flag and Arms of Lugaggia, Switzerland (fotw & Wikipedia); Flag of Geroldswil, Switzerland (fotw)

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