Dictionary of Vexillology: E (Equilateral Triangle – Eye Splice)

Last modified: 2025-04-12 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

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

On this page:

• EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
• EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)
• ERADICATED
• ERASED
• ERECT
• ERMINE
• ERRONEOUS FLAG
• ESCALLOP
• ESCARBUNCLE
• ESCUTCHEON
• ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE (or PRETENSE)
• ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMS
• ESTOILE
• ETALON FLAG
• EVENING COLOURS (or COLORS)
• EVENT FLAG
• EVERTED
• EVOLUTE
• EXECUTIVE ORDER
• EXPANDING STRIPE(S)
• EX-VOTO FLAG
• EYELET
• EYE OF GOD (OF PROVIDENCE or OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE)
• EYE SPLICE

---

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE

A triangle whose three sides and three angles are equal – see ‘triangle 1)’.

Flag of Carneirinho, Brazil

---

EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)

The alternative heraldic terms for a checky of nine squares (or occasionally squares and rectangles – see note a) below) in metal and tincture alternately (which thus form a cross) – a checky or checkered of nine, a cross equipollé or cross quarter-pierced – but see checky 2) and note b) below.

Arms and Flag of Sé, Portugal; Arms of Lamas, Portugal

Notes
a) If, for example, the cross equipollé is displayed on a banner of arms or on only a section of those arms, two or more of the squares will become rectangles.
b) A cross quarter-pierced need not (although it can) be formed by an equipollé of nine, and we suggest that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted if further details are required.

Flag of Ħ'Attard, Malta

---

ERADICATED

The heraldic term for a tree (or possibly a plant) showing its roots.

Flag of Riedholz, Switzerland; Flag of Portunhos e Outil, Portugal; Flag of Vest-Agder, Norway

---

ERASED

The heraldic term used when a charge is cut off as in couped 1), but with the dividing line ragged or uneven – see couped 1).

Flag and Arms of Morra, The Netherlands; Flag of Trinity College – Oxford University, UK

---

ERECT

1) The heraldic term used when an animal is shown upright or on its hind feet. In certain cases this may be used in place of  "rampant", or may be employed in relation to the heads of animals and fish – but see ‘erect 2)’, ‘haurient’, ‘rampant’ and ‘upright 2)’.

2) The heraldic term also used when a charge (often a sword) is shown upright, and employed particularly when it is not normally seen in that position.

Flag of Gorjani, Croatia; Arms of Sibenik-Knin, Croatia Flag of Smokvica, Croatia

---

ERMINE

The heraldic term for the fur of that animal, and usually shown as a semé of small black trefoils (with larger tails) on a white field (see also ‘furs’, ‘potent 1)’, ‘semé’, ‘trefoil’ and ‘vair’).

 
Flag of Gistel, Belgium; Flag of Pays de Dol, France; Flag of Almanza, Spain

Please note that "ermine" is considered symbolic of royalty, and is (accordingly) often seen on royal insignia – see pavilion.

---

ERRONEOUS FLAG

1) A term sometimes used in place of the more precise terms fictional or fictitious flag – see ‘fictional flag’ and ‘fictitious flag’ (also ‘false flag 1)’).
2) A flag displayed or identified in error/mistakenly.

Erroneous/Fictitious Flag of the Congo from the film Dark of the Sun; Erroneous/Fictional Flag of Buranda from the TV series Yes Minister

---

ESCALLOP

The heraldic term for a scallop shell generally (but not exclusively) facing downwards, and often representing the badge of a pilgrim (see also pilgrim's staff).

Flags of Saint-Barthélemy, Buttwil and Dorénaz, Switzerland

---

ESCARBUNCLE

The heraldic term for a charge with several radiating arms which is meant to represent the strengthening/decorative metalwork of a shield – a carbuncle or charbuncle.

Flag and Arms of Re, Vestfold, Norway; Flag of Gnarrenburg, Germany

---

ESCUTCHEON

The heraldic term for a shield or base upon which charges or quarterings are placed (see also ‘charge’, ‘impale 1)’, ‘inescutcheon’, ‘quartering’, and ‘shield 1’).

Escutcheons: Devínska Nová Ves, Slovakia, Oruro, Bolivia and Województwo wielkopolskie, Poland

Notes
a) In English heraldry the shape of this shield/escutcheon is considered irrelevant in a grant of arms – a shape which is (in any case) usually dictated by the current fashion, however.
b) The escutcheon of a spinster or widow is displayed upon a lozenge as referenced above.

Escutcheon of Kate Middleton before her marriage to HRH Prince William

---

ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE (or PRETENSE)

1) The heraldic term used when one country adds the arms of another to its own in order to show a claim to all or part of that country – for example: the arms of France added to those of England from c1350–1801 – but see ‘flag of pretence’.

2) The heraldic term also used when the arms of an heiress are placed in the centre of those of her husband, rather than being impaled – see ‘impaled’.

3) See ‘inescutcheon,’

Royal Standard, England c1399–1605; Royal Arms, Denmark; Royal Standard Spain 1700–1759

---

ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMS

An alternative term for a full set of armorial bearings (see also ‘armorial bearings’ and ‘coat of arms).

Flag of Gloucester, UK

---

ESTOILE

The heraldic term for a star or star-like charge that usually (but not exclusively) has six wavy points, and considered by some sources to be interchangeable with mullet – see ‘mullet’.

Flag and Arms of Portsmouth, UK; Flag of St. Hilda's College Oxford, UK

Please note, we suggest that a glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted regarding the term given above.

---

ETALON FLAG

See ‘model flag’.

Flag of Yukon Territory, Canada (Design Details Established by Etalon/Model Flag)

---

EVENING COLOURS (or COLORS)

See ‘sunset’.

Naval Ensign, UK; Naval Ensign, South Africa 1952–1981

---

EVENT FLAG

See ‘commemorative flag’.

Flag of the 26th International Congress of Vexillology, Australia

---

EVERTED

An alternative heraldic term to reversed – see ‘reversed 2)’.

---

EVOLUTE

(v) A largely US term for the unrolling of a flag that has been stored rolled around a tube (see also ‘unfurl’).

---

EXECUTIVE ORDER

In US usage, the legal means by which the President authorizes display of a flag or the amendment of an established design, and the equivalent of a Presidential Decree or Royal Order in Council – see ‘presidential decree’, ‘royal decree’ and ‘royal order in council 2)’ (also ‘flag law’).

National Flags of the USA 1912–1959 and 1959–1960 as Regulated by Executive Order

---

EXPANDING STRIPE(S)

A term that may be used when a stripe or stripes widen (usually but not invariably) from the hoist to the fly and start from one fixed point (or from two closely spaced points) as in, for example, the flags of the Marshall Islands or the Seychelles – diverging stripes – but see ‘converging stripes’ and ‘beams’ (also ‘radiating 1)’, ‘stripe(s)’ and ‘striped’).

  
National Flag of the Marshall Islands; National Flag of the Seychelles

Please note that this is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors as no suitably accurate alternative could be found

---

EX-VOTO FLAG

A flag, usually small and plain, displayed (especially by Hindus) to fulfill a religious vow (see also ‘religious flag’).

---

EYELET

See ‘grommet’.

---

EYE OF GOD (OF PROVIDENCE or OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE)

The alternative terms for an ancient symbol composed of an eye contained within by a triangle now taken to symbolize the Trinity, and usually (but not exclusively) surrounded by a nimbus, the rays of a sun, a mandoria or similar – the All-Seeing Eye of God, the Eye of Providence or of Divine Providence, God’s Eye or a Trinity Eye (see also ‘mandoria’, ‘nimbus’, ‘radiant’ and ‘rays 1)’).

Flag of Goppisberg, Switzerland; Flag and Arms of Radzymin, Poland

---

EYE SPLICE

The naval term for a closed loop at the end of a rope or halyard formed by splicing the end of the rope back into itself to form an eye – a running eye – but see ‘becket’ (also ‘running eye and toggle’ and ‘splice’).

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