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Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Sub-national Flag - Symbol)

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SUB-NATIONAL FLAG
SUBSTITUTE (or SUBSTITUTE PENNANT)
SUBVERTED (or SUBVERTANT)
SUIT (or SUITE) OF FLAGS
SUN
SUN-IN-SPLENDOUR (or IN-GLORY)
SUNBURST
SUN CROSS
SUN DISC (or DISK)
SUN EMBLEM
SUNDAY ENSIGN
SUNSET (THE CEREMONY OF)
SUPERIMPOSED
SUPPORTER’S FLAG/PENNANT
SUPPORTERS
SUPPOSITIOUS FLAG
SUPRA-NATIONAL (or SUPER-NATIONAL) FLAG
SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)
SURMOUNTED BY
SURTOUT
SWAG (or SWAGGED)
SWALLOW-TAIL(ED)
SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE
SWASTIKA
SWORD CROSS
SWORD KNOT
SYMBOL
SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

SUB-NATIONAL FLAG

A generic term for the flag of any territorial division within a sovereign or independent country or within a federated state, that is subordinate to the national flag of that country or federated state – a constituent state, province, county, municipality or similar (see also ‘civic flag’, ‘cantonal flag’, ‘national flag’, ‘state flag 2) and ‘tribal flag’).

Flag of the State of Acre, Brazil; Provincial Flag of Saskatchewan, Canada; County Flag of Huntingdonshire, UK; Municipal Flag of Góra Świętej Małgorzaty, Poland (fotw)

Notes
a) The flags of the constituent parts of the UK – those of England, Scotland and Wales – although subordinate to the Union Flag are also national flags under the law. Similar situations may, however, exist in other countries, and the applicable country's laws should be consulted to determine the status of such flags (see also ‘union jack’).
b) In the sub-divisions of some countries – such as the Länder of Germany or provinces of Spain – there are variants of the state or provincial flags for civil and official use - but see ‘ceremonial flag 1)’, 'state service flag' and ‘official flag 2)’ (also ‘civil flag’).

Civil Flag La Rioja

Official Flag La Rioja, Spain (fotw)

SUBSTITUTE (or SUBSTITUTE PENNANT)

Any one of three triangular pennants used in the International Code of Signal Flags (or any one of four in the NATO Code of Signals) to replace the relevant flag or numeral pennant when that letter or number is to be repeated – thus only one set of signal flags need be carried aboard ship – a repeater or repeater pennant - see ‘international code of signal flags’ (also ‘absence pennant’, ‘numeral pennant’ and ‘signal flag’).

From left: First Substitute to the Third Substitute, ICS, together with a Fourth Substitute making up those in the NATO Signal Code.

Please note that in British RN usage a substitute or repeater was first introduced in Howe’s Code of 1790.

From left: Substitutes in RN Usage 1790–1799, 1799–1803, 1803-1810

SUBVERTED (or SUBVERTANT)

See ‘reversed 2)’.

SUIT (or SUITE) OF FLAGS

The ensign, jack and masthead pennant of a commissioned warship (see ‘ensign’, ‘jack’ and ‘masthead pennant 1)’).

Stealth Warship of the Royal Norwegian Navy wearing a Suit of Flags

SUN

1) In vexillology see ‘disc’, ‘star 1)’ with its following note and ‘sun emblem’ (also ‘sunburst’)
2) In heraldry see ‘sunin--splendour’.

SUN-IN-SPLENDOUR (IN SPLENDOR or IN-GLORY)

The heraldic term for a sun that usually (but not exclusively) has alternating straight and wavy rays, and which often (although not invariably) shows a face – but see ‘active and inactive’, ‘sun emblem’ and ‘sunburst’ (also ‘mullet’).

Flag of Corneaux, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Kolobrzeg, Poland (Jarig Bakker)

SUNBURST

The term used when a (usually but not invariably) rising sun is shown complete with its rays – but see ‘radiating 1)’, ‘sun emblem’ and ‘sun in splendour’ (also ‘active’, ‘active and inactive’ and ‘inactive’).

A Sunburst Banner of Ireland (fotw): Lebowa Homeland, South Africa 1972 – 1994 (fotw); Corps Commander, Pakistan (fotw)

SUN CROSS

The term for that variation of a Celtic cross which is now considered a symbol of neo-paganism, but which has been, or is being used by Nazi and neo-Nazi movements in Europe, and (with a further variation) the USA - a wheel cross - see ‘Celtic cross’, (also ‘arrow cross’ and ‘swastika’).

Flag of the Unghirden, Norway 1940 – 1945 (fotw); Flag of the Nordiska Rikspartiet, Sweden (fotw); Flag of the Ku Klux Klan, USA (fotw)

SUN DISC (or DISK)

See ‘disc’.

Aboriginal Flag, Australia

SUN EMBLEM

The term that may be used for a representation of the sun which is stylized rather than pictorial, as on the examples shown below – but see ‘disk’, ‘solar sign’ with its following note and ‘sunburst’ (also ‘active’, ‘active and inactive’, ‘beam(s) 1)’, ‘inactive’, ‘rays 1)’ and ‘sun-in-splendour’).

Flag of New Mexico, US (fotw); National Flag of Macedonia, 1992 – 95 (fotw); National Flag of the Philippines (fotw)

SUNDAY ENSIGN

A term used in the British Royal Navy and some others, to describe an ensign larger than the normal daily size that is flown on ships and at naval establishments on Sundays and/or days of national celebration – a ceremonial ensign or flag (see also ‘ceremonial ensign’ and ‘holiday colours’).

Please note that it this is not to be confused with a flag of ceremony (see also 'indoor flag’ and 'garrison flag').

SUNSET (THE CEREMONY OF)

The ceremony of lowering the ensign and jack particularly (but not exclusively) aboard a warship or naval shore establishment at the local time of sunset or at a specified time at the end of a working day - conducting or making sunset or evening colours (see also ‘colours 5)’ and ‘retreat ceremony’).

SUPERIMPOSED

See ‘surmounted by’.

SUPPORTER’S FLAG/PENNANT

1) See ‘sports flag 2)’.

2) See ‘political flag’.

A Football Supporters Flag, Croatia (fotw); Flag of the Polish Independence Movement Solidarity (fotw)

SUPPORTERS

Human, mythological or animal figures traditionally placed either side of a shield in a set of armorial bearings - see also Appendix IV & Appendix V (also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘coat of arms’ and ‘heraldic beasts’).

National Arms of Jamaica (fotw); National Arms of Chile (fotw); State Arms of Pennsylvania, US (fotw); National Arms of Chad (fotw)

SUPPOSITIOUS FLAG

The term for a historical flag that is actually erroneous, but which is accepted as factual because of repeated usage (see also ‘attributed flag’ and ‘reconstruction’).

A Suppositious Spanish Naval Ensign of the 1785 Pattern

SUPRA-NATIONAL (or SUPER-NATIONAL) FLAG

The flag of an organization, some aspects of whose authority and/or influence transcend national sovereignty, as in for example, that of the United Nations or European Union (but see also ‘international flag’, ‘Geneva Convention flag’, ‘patchwork flag 1)’ and ‘safe conduct flag’.

Flag of The United Nations (fotw); Flag of The Commonwealth of Nations (fotw); Flag of The World Bank (fotw)

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 note below (also ‘charge 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 ‘debruised’ and ‘overall 2)’) (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘ordinary’ and ‘throughout’.

Flag of Santa Eulàlia de Riuprimer; Spain (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”.

SURTOUT

See ‘overall 2)’.

Flag of Chêne-Bourg, Switzerland (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); 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’, ‘triangular-ended tails’, ‘tongue(s)’, ‘triangular-tongued’ and ‘triple-tailed 2)’).

From left: War Flag/State Flag/Naval Ensign of Norway (fotw); War Flag/Naval Ensign of Finland (fotw); Naval Ensign of Sweden (fotw); Flag of Bajc, Slovakia (CS)

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 ‘appendix VIII’, ‘arrow cross’, ‘cross 2)’, ‘rune(s)’ and ‘sun cross’).

From left: China, 1922 - (CS); The National Flag, Germany 1933-45; Air Force Squadron Flag, Finland (fotw)

SWORD CROSS

See ‘cross fitchy’ in ‘appendix VIII’ and ‘cross of Santiago’.

Flag and Arms of Alcoutim, Portugal (Sérgio Horta)

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)

SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

See ‘stepped gonfalon’.

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