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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 FLAMANT
SWORD KNOT
SWORD OF ALI
SYMBOL
SYMBOLS OF DISGRACE
SYMBOLS OF THE STATE OF
SYMMETRICAL OUTWARDLY (or INWARDLY) STEPPED

SURFING FLAG (or PENNANT)

See ‘beach flag’.

Surfing Flag UK and Surfing Pennant France

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, charged 2), debruised and overall 2) (also charge 1), ensigned, ordinary and throughout.

Civil Flag and Ensign of Danzig 1920–1939; Red Hand Flag of Northern Ireland; Army Flag, UK

Notes
a) With regard to 2) 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’ as referenced above.
b) Also please note with regard to 2), it is suggested that a glossary or dictionary or heraldry be consulted with regard to comparative use of the terms "charged", “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; Surrogate Civil Ensign 1945, Japan

SURTOUT

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

Flag of Chêne-Bourg, Switzerland

SWAG (or SWAGGED)

A semi-circular display of gathered fabric usually in the National Colours (or collection of such displays) used to celebrate an event – but see bunting 2) (also fan).

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; Flag Z in the German Signal Code; State Ensign of Saar, Germany

SWALLOWTAIL AND TONGUE

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

War Flag/Naval Ensign of Finland; Flag of Čechy, Slovakia; Naval Ensign of Sweden

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 and of the Korean Buddhists, (in a clock-wise form) on some flags 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’).

National Flag, Germany 1933–45; China and Korea (CS); National Socialist White People's Party 1976, US

SWORD

A sharp-edged weapon consisting of a blade and a hilt (handle); it will usually be equipped with a full or partial handguard and in some cases also a pommel. Swords vary much with period and region, although in general (vexillological) use the name largely (but by no means exclusively) refers to a medieval-type weapon having a straight double-edged blade, with a hilt, cross-guard and pommel, and based upon a classical Roman short-sword – the gladius – but see sabre, scimitar and zulfikar (also hilted and pommeled).

Flag of Chavusy, Belarus; Flag of Haegebostad, Norway; Flag of the Army, UK

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 Laranjeiro, Portugal; Flag of Wilstedt, Germany; Flag of Vagos, Portugal

SWORD FLAMANT

The heraldic term for a flaming sword – see flaming sword (also flamant).

Flag of São Miguel de Acha, Portugal

SWORD KNOT

See ‘dress knot’.

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

SWORD OF ALI

See ‘zulfikar’.

Standard of the Bey of Tunis c1860–1957

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; Flag of Apple Inc., US; Flag of Pan American World Airways

SYMBOLS OF DISGRACE