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

Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Surfing Flag - Symmetrical Outwardly Stepped)

On this page:

SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)
SURMOUNTED BY
SURROGATE FLAG
SURTOUT
SWAG (or SWAGGED)
SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)
SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE
SWASTIKA
SWORD
SWORD CROSS
SWORD KNOT
SWORD OF ALI
SYMBOL
SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)

See ‘beach flag’.

Surfing Flag UK and Surfing Pennant France (fotw)

SURMOUNTED BY

1) In vexillology a term that may be used when one charge is placed above or at the top of another – but see ‘above 1)’ (also ‘charge 1)’ and ‘topped 1)’).

2) In heraldry the term used when an ordinary or a charge (or charges) is (or are) placed over – that is in front of – another as per the examples given below, and which generally (although not exclusively) touches the field – but see the notes below, ‘debruised’ and ‘overall 2)’) (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘throughout’.

Civil Flag and Ensign of Danzig 1920 – 1939 (fotw); Flag of Santa Eulàlia de Riuprimer; Spain (fotw); Naval Flag of the Christ’s Knights Order 17thC, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Vilabertran, Spain (fotw)

Notes
a) The correct heraldic term for a charge (such as a crown or coronet) placed above rather than over - that is in front of - another is ‘ensigned’.
b) Also please note, it is suggested that a glossary or dictionary or heraldry be consulted with regard to comparative use of the terms “overall” and “surmounted by”.

SURROGATE FLAG

1) See ‘fictitious flag’.
2) A flag that is introduced as a replacement for one previously in use but now banned.

Surrogate/Fictitious flag of the Soviet Army (fotw); Surrogate Civil Ensign 1945, Japan (fotw)

SURTOUT

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

Arms and Flag of Chêne-Bourg, Switzerland (Wikipedia & fotw)

SWAG (or SWAGGED)

See ‘fan’ (also ‘bunting 2)’).

SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)

1) A V-shaped cut in the fly of a flag or pennant and forming two points - fork/forked tail or fork-tailed - but see 'double pointed' (also ‘crutch’ ‘fly 1)’, ‘indentation(s)’, ‘orthogonal’, ‘palm’, ‘rounded swallow-tail’ and ‘hussar cut’).

2) adj A flag or pennant having such a cut or cuts in the fly (see also ‘swallowtail and tongue’, ‘triangular-tongued’ and ‘triple-tailed 2)’)..

Naval Ensign of Germany (fotw); State Ensign of Saar, Germany (fotw); Flag of Galanta, Slovakia (fotw)

SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE

A flag as above, but having a third tail between the other two and so coming to three points at the fly - triple-tailed or tongued, or three-tongued, or a double- or triple-swallowtail (see also ‘indentation(s)’ ‘palm’, ‘square-tongued’, ‘tails’, ‘tongue(s) 1)’, ‘triangular-tongued’ and ‘triple-tailed 2)’).

War Flag/State Flag/Naval Ensign of Norway (fotw); War Flag/Naval Ensign of Finland (fotw); Naval Ensign of Sweden (fotw); Flag of Čechy, Slovakia (fotw)

SWASTIKA

An ancient symbol in the form of an equal-armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, presently used (running anti-clockwise) as the emblem of a Chinese humanitarian organization founded in 1922, (in a clock-wise form) on the presidential flag of Finland, and until 1945 as the emblem of the German Nazi Party – a crooked/hooked cross, fylfot or cross potent rebated (see also ‘arrow cross’, ‘cross 2)’, ‘rune(s)’ and ‘sun cross’).

China, 1922 - (CS); The National Flag, Germany 1933-45; National Socialist White People's Party 1976, US (fotw); Air Force Squadron Flag, Finland (fotw)

SWORD

A sharp-edged weapon consisting of a blade and a hilt (handle), that may be equipped with a handguard and usually also a pommel. Swords vary much with period and region, although in general (vexillogical use) the name largely (but by no means exclusively) refers to a weapon having a straight double-edged blade, with a hilt, cross-guard and pommel, and based upon a classical Roman short-sword - the gladius (see also ‘sabre’, ‘scimitar’ and ‘zulfikar’.

Flag of a Lord Lieutenant UK (fotw); Arms of Żory, Poland (fotw); Flag of the Army, UK (fotw); Flag of Haarlem, The Netherlands (fotw)

Please note that the many types of sword are beyond the remit of this dictionary, and it is suggested that a suitable source be consulted if further details are required.

SWORD CROSS

See ‘cross fitchy’ and ‘cross of Santiago’.

Flag of Wilstedt, Germany (fotw); Arms and Flag of Alcoutim, Portugal (fotw)

SWORD OF ALI

See ‘zulfikar’.

Standard of the Bey of Tunis c1860 - 1957 (fotw)

SWORD KNOT

See ‘dress knot’.

Officer’s Sword/Dress Knot, USN and USCG (marlowwhite.com)

SYMBOL

1) Generically, the vexilloid, flag, coat of arms, emblem or badge that may be considered representative or symbolic of a nation, region, municipality, people, organization or cause – see ‘badge 1)’, ‘coat of arms 1), ‘emblem 1)’, ‘emblem, military or governmental’, ‘emblem, state or national’, ‘vexilloid 1)’ and ‘vexilloid 1)’.

2) Specifically, see ‘Logo 1)’.

Former Flag of the Nordic Council (fotw); Arms of Jesenice, Slovenia (fotw); Former Flag of Azuma, Japan (fotw); Flag of Pan American World Airways (fotw)

SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

See ‘stepped gonfalon’.

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