Dictionary of Vexillology: T (Tab – Teutonic Cross)

Last modified: 2024-10-19 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

• TAB
• TABARD
• TABLE FLAG (or TABLETOP FLAG)
• TACK
• TACK PIN
• TACKLINE
• TAILS
• TAKBIR
• TALONED
• TANGLE ROD
• TANZENSPITZKREUZ
• TAPERED SWALLOWTAIL
• TASSELS
• TATZENKREUZ
• TAU CROSS
• TELEGRAPH FLAG
• TELEGRAPHING
• TEMPLAR CROSS
• TEMPLATE FLAG
• TENNÉ
• TERRITORIAL ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)
• TERRITORIAL FLAG
• TERRY
• TEUTONIC CROSS

TAB

A small piece of leather sewn into the sleeve of a flag fastened to a screw head protruding from the staff, and designed to keep an indoor flag, parade flag or military colour from slipping (see also ‘colour 2)’ and ‘sleeve 2)’).

Please note that this is an alternative to a grommet and clip or decorative nails as methods of fixing a parade flag or military colour to its staff. It should be noted also however, that the practice of tying a parade flag or military colour to its staff, or affixing it with metal rings, is not entirely obsolete (see also ‘ties’).

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TABARD

1) In US army usage, a trumpet banner – see ‘bannerette’.

2) The formal surcoat worn by a herald on ceremonial occasions, and emblazoned with those arms appropriate to the particular office involved (see also ‘coat of arms 2)’).

Court of Lord Lyon King of Arms, Scotland (International Heraldry)

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TABLE FLAG (or TABLETOP FLAG)

A small flag, frequently mounted on a cross bar whose staff and stand make it suitable for display on a desk or podium – a desk flag (see also banneret 1), flaglet and handwaver).

Table Flag of Gračišće, Croatia

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TACK

1. The nautical term for a line which is spliced into (or attached to) a grommet or eyelet at the foot of a flag’s hoist for securing it to its halyard (see also ‘grommet 1)’, ‘halyard’, ‘hoist 2)’, ‘Inglefield clips’, ‘splice’ and ‘tackline’).

2. A term for the lower hoist corner of a flag (see also ‘hoist 2)’).

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TACK PIN

See ‘belaying pin’.

Tack/Belaying Pins (Wikipedia)

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TACKLINE

A nautical term for a length of halyard fitted with Inglefield clips at both ends which is used to separate different signal hoists on the same halyard (see also ‘halyard’, ‘hoist 2)’ ‘Inglefield clips’ and 'tack').

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TAILS

Two or more projections extending from the fly of a flag or the bottom edge of a gonfalon, hanging flag or banner, either varying in width/length or of even size, sometimes triangular or possibly straight-sided with rounded, triangular or squared ends – tongues (See also ‘gonfalon’, ‘multiitailed’, ‘swallow-tail(ed)’ and ‘triangular-ended tails’.

   
Gonfalon/Ceremonial Flags of Kumrovec, Breznički Hum and Baska, Croatia (fotw)

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TAKBIR

A term for the Arabic inscription Allahu Akbar or “God is Greater” that has appeared on several Arab Flags and can currently be seen on those of Iran and Iraq (see also ‘shahada’ and ‘zulficar’).

Flag of the Waziristan Resistance Movement c1930, Pakistan (fotw); National Flag of Iran (fotw); Flag of Pakhtunistan, Pakistan (fotw)

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TALONED

In heraldry see ‘armed’ (also ‘membered’).

Arms and Flag of Brandenburg, Germany (fotw)

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TANGLE ROD

A metal implement attached to a flagpole (particularly one set at an angle from a building) that clasps a flag and prevents it wrapping itself around the pole (see also ‘flag pole’, ‘flag spreader’, ‘outrigger pole’ and ‘weighted fly’).

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TANZENSPITZKREUZ

The German term for the heraldic phrase a “Latin cross fitchy’ – see ‘fitchy’, ‘Latin cross’ and ‘cross of Santiago’ (also ‘cross fitchy’ and ‘Latin cross fleury fitchy’).

Flag of Villamayor de Santiago, Spain (fotw)

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TAPERED SWALLOWTAIL

See ‘broad command pennant’, ‘broad pennant’, ‘burgee 1)’, ‘burgee 2)’ and ‘burgee command pennant’.

Broad Pennant, Norway (fotw); Burgee of the Bourne Yacht Club, US (fotw); Burgee Command Pennant, USN (sea flags)

Please note that (in addition to the references given above) this term may also be applied (as one example) to the flag of the state of Ohio.

 
Flag of the State of Ohio, US (fotw)

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TASSELS

A decoration of twisted fabric or metal, often surrounding a wooden core and hanging from a cord, attached to a staff or directly onto a flag – especially a colour or parade flag (see also ‘colour 2)’, ‘cord(s) 1)’, ‘lanyard 1)’ and ‘parade flag 2)’).

Ceremonial Flag of Abedim-Moncao (detail), Portugal (fisisco)

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TATZENKREUZ

The German term for a cross pattée – cross pattée

Flag of Cortaillod, Switzerland

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TAU CROSS

In heraldry see ‘cross tau’.

Flag of L’Albiol, Spain (fotw)

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TELEGRAPH FLAG

1) In British RN usage now obsolete, the flag devised by Captain Sir Home Popham in 1800, and raised prior to a signal hoist to indicate whether the following flags were to be deciphered using a signal book or by his vocabulary code (see also code pennant, finishing flag, preparative and signal flag).
2) Marryat’s 1817 code (of signals for the merchant service) also showed a telegraph flag – but see note b) below (also Marryat's code).

Telegraph Flag in Popham’s Code; Telegraph Flag in Marryat’s Code

Note
a) With regard to 1), this system formed the basis of the RN naval code for over 100 years.
b) Regarding 2), exactly how this flag was in used in Marryat’s code cannot be confirmed at the present time, however, it is not unreasonable to assume a similar meaning to that in Popham.

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TELEGRAPHING

See 'semaphore 2)'.

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TEMPLAR CROSS

1) Generically a red cross of varying design representing the Medieval Order of the Knights Templar – see bauceant and balcanifer.
2) Specifically, the cross of the Portuguese branch of the above order – see rounded cross.

Flag of Vila Chă de Braciosa, Portugal; a Templar Cross (Wikipedia); Flag of Ferreira do Zêzere, Portugal.

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TEMPLATE FLAG

That flag whose colours and/or design form the model upon which other flags are based – an archivexillum (see also core flag and flag family).

Flag of Berlin, Germany, together with those of The Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf District and Mitte District of that city (fotw)

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TENNÉ

A heraldic term for the colour orange – see ‘mixed tinctures’.

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TERRITORIAL ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)

See ‘coat of arms’.

Arms of Altay Territory, Russia (ICH)

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TERRITORIAL FLAG

See ‘sub-national flag’.

Flag of Altay Territory, Russia (fotw)

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TERRY

A heraldic term for the colour of earth – see ‘proper’.

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TEUTONIC CROSS

A cross of varying design, but always black on a white field, and symbolic of the German Order of The Brothers of St Mary of Jerusalem – see iron cross.

Flag and Arms of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order c1500 (fotw)

Please note that this term should only be used when the cross so described has a direct connection to the Teutonic Order.

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