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Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cross Fitchy – Cross Moline)

Last modified: 2025-03-01 by martin karner
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CROSS FITCHY
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, and which may have plain or decorated ends, but whose vertical arm either comes to a point or has a point projecting below it – see cross of Santiago (also cross 2) and fitchy).

cross-fitchy example cross-fitchy example cross-fitchy example
Flag of Cabeça Gorda, Portugal; Example; Flag of Bernissart, Belgium

Please note that, unless referring to a plain cross this term is always accompanied by a further description, for example a "cross crosslet fitchy".


CROSS FIXED
One heraldic term that covers a standard cross – see ‘cross 1)’.

fixed cross
Flag of Nijland, The Netherlands


CROSS FLEURY (FLORY, FLORETTY or FLEURONNY)
The alternative heraldic terms for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose ends are formed by fleur-de-lis – a fleur-de-lis or fleury cross, avis cross or cross of Calatrava (see also avis cross, cross 2), Dominican cross, fleur-de-lis and fleury plus cross of Calatrava).

cross fleury cross fleury cross fleury
Flag of Mafra; Arms of Glória; Flag of Cabeção, Portugal


CROSS FLEURY ENGRAILED
See ‘cross fleury’ (also ‘engrailed’).

Flintshire, Wales
Flag of Flintshire, Wales


CROSS FLEURY FITCHY
A term sometimes used for a cross of Santiago instead of the correct heraldic term Latin cross fleury fitchy – see ‘cross of Santiago’.

cross fleury fitchy
Flag of Azeitão, Portugal


CROSS FLEURY GIRONNY
The heraldic term for a Dominican cross – see ‘Dominican cross’.

cross fleury gironny cross fleury gironny
Example; Flag of Aldeanueva de Santa Cruz, Spain


CROSS FORMÉE (FORMÉ or FORMY)
Alternative heraldic terms for a cross pattée – see ‘cross pattée’.

cross formee
Civil Ensign, Guernsey


CROSS FORMY ROUNDED
A heraldic term for a rounded cross – see ‘rounded cross’.

cross formy rounded cross formy rounded
Arms and Flag of Paços de Ferreira, Portugal


CROSS FOURCHÉ (FOURCHÉE, FOURCHY or FORCHY)
The heraldic term used when a cross (of whatever type) has forked ends – a cross fourchée or cross fourchy but see cross moline and forked cross (also cross of eight points 2), Maltese cross and fourché).

cross fourche cross fourche cross fourche
Flag of Frauenkappelen, Switzerland; Aircraft Marking 1941–44, Romania; Flag of Faido, Switzerland

Please note that, unless dealing with a Greek cross (a straight-sided cross with arms of equal length), this term should never be used alone, but always with the type involved – for example a "cross pattée fourché" or "Latin cross fourché" as illustrated above.


CROSS-FUSILLY
An alternative heraldic term for a cross clechee – see ‘cross-clechée’.

cross-fusilly
Flag of La Tallada d'Empordà, Spain


CROSS GRINGOLÉE
The French heraldic term that covers a snakehead cross – see ‘snakehead cross’.

cross gringolee
Former Flag of Sittard, The Netherlands


CROSS GYRONNY
The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not extend to the edges of a shield, flag or panel, but is composed of two tinctures meeting at the centre point and alternating either side of the vertical and horizontal meridians (thus giving it a three-dimensional appearance) – a gyronny cross – see ‘gyronny’ and compare with ‘cross-counterchanged (also ‘Dominican cross’, ‘faceted’ and ‘tincture’).


Flag of Safiental commune, Switzerland; Example; Flag of Studnice, Czechia

Notes
a) Unless describing a plain cross throughout, this term should always be accompanied by a further description, for example a "cross fleury gyronny couped".
b) A cross whose centre is obscured by a charge could be described as either a cross gyronny or a cross-counterchanged, however, the term ‘cross quartered’ has now come into use – see ‘cross quartered’.


CROSS HUMETTY
The heraldic term for a Greek cross – see ‘Greek cross 2)’ (also ‘cross-couped’).

cross humetty cross humetty
National Ensign and Arms of Switzerland


CROSS-LOZENGY
An alternative heraldic term for a cross clechee – see ‘cross clechée’.

example example
Arms and Flag of Verdal, Norway


CROSS MALTESE
The correct heraldic term for a Maltese cross – see ‘Maltese cross 1)’.

maltese cross maltese cross
Flag and Arms of Hvozd, Czechia


CROSS MOLINE
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose ends are split into two curved pieces – an anchor or moline cross, a cross recercelé or a cross anchory (see also cross 2), cross fourche, fourche and snakehead cross).


Flag of Houlle, France; Flag of Aalter, Belgium; Flag of Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont, Belgium


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