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Dictionary of Vexillology: T (Triangle – Triarched Triangular Shield)

Last modified: 2025-02-22 by martin karner
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TRIANGLE
1) A horizontal charge whose apex lies along the meridian, and which may extend up to or slightly exceeding one-half the length of a flag, but whose base generally (but not exclusively) occupies the full width of the hoist – a simple or hoist-triangle (see also chevron 1) and meridian)
2) A charge whose base is parallel to the lower edge of a flag – an ‘upright triangle’ or a cone (see also voided triangle).

Kájov, Czechia Jordan Air Force Cercs, Spain
National flag of Djibouti; Air Force Ensign of Jordan; Flag of Cercs, Spain

Notes
a) With regard to 1) when the base is on the fly it may be called a reversed or fly-triangle
b) Regarding 2) an upright triangle whose base faces the top of a flag is inverted, however:
c) A triangle whose apex and base touch opposite edges of the flag, whilst often named a triangle throughout, should be considered a pile (see pile 1)).


TRIANGLE AT THE HOIST
See triangle 1) (above).

triangle at hoist
National Flag of Zimbabwe


TRIANGLE THROUGHOUT
See pile 1) and note c) under triangle (also throughout).

triangle throughout
Presidential Flag of Namibia


TRIANGLE VOIDED
See voided triangle.

voided triangle
Flag of Villa Saralegui, Argentina


TRIANGULAR (or TRIANGLE) BORDER
See wolfteeth 1).

[Hungary president]
Presidential Standard of Hungary


TRIANGULAR-ENDED (or TRIANGULARLY ENDING)
Terms used to describe the bottom edge of a gonfalon (or possibly the fly of a flag) when it is in the form of a straight-sided triangle – see gonfalon 1) (also triangular-ended tails below).

[gonfalon showing triangular-ended] [gonfalon showing triangular-ended]  [gonfalon showing triangular-ended] 
Gonfalons of Maruševec, Bilje and Bošnjaci, Croatia


TRIANGULAR-ENDED (or TRIANGULARLY ENDING) TAILS (or TONGUES)
The alternative terms used to describe the bottom edge of a gonfalon (or possibly the fly of a flag) that is cut into two or more straight-sided tails or tongues with triangular ends – see ‘gonfalon 1)’ (also ‘square-tailed’, ‘tails’, ‘tongue(s)’ and ‘triangular-ended’ above).

[Triangular-ended example]  [Triangular-ended example]  [Triangular-ended example]
Gonfalons of Breznički Hum, Lopar and Kijevo, Croatia


TRIANGULAR HEART-SHAPED SHIELD
The term used in some systems of (European) continental heraldry to describe a shield of the gothic type – see ‘gothic shield’ and its following note (also ‘triarched triangular shield’).

[triangular heart shield] [triangular heart shield]
Fkag and Arms of Generalski Stol, Croatia


TRIANGULAR PANEL
1) The term that may be used to describe a right-angle triangle that usually occupies the full width of a flag, but which has two sides running parallel to and/or along the edges of that flag.
2) The term may also be used to describe those panels that appear and the hoist and at the fly of a diagonal tricolour, of a diagonally divided bi-colour, or of a flag having an ascending or descending diagonal – that is a bend or bend sinister – see ‘bend’ and ‘bend sinister’.
3) See ‘cantonal triangle’.

[Triangular panel - Bosnia] [Triangular panel - Sarajevo] Castanhal, ParĂ¡ Brazil
National Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Flag of Centar, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Flag of Castanhal, Brazil

Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no suitable established alternative could be found.


TRIANGULAR SWALLOWTAIL
See ‘tapered swallowtail’.

[Commodore’s Broad Pennant, South Africa]
Triangular Swallowtail/Commodore’s Broad Pennant 1972–1994, RSA


TRIANGULAR-TONGUED (or TAILED)
Alternative terms for that variation of a triple tailed flag whose tongues or tails take the form of three matching triangles – see ‘triple-tailed 1)’ (also ‘swallowtail’, ‘swallowtail and tongue’, ‘tongue(s)’, and ‘triangular-ended tails’).

[Triangular-tongued]
Flag of Euclid, U.S.

Please note that these terms have been introduced by the Editors as no suitable established examples could be found.


TRIARCHED TRIANGULAR SHIELD
The term used in some systems of continental heraldry to describe a shield the edges of which are formed by three (usually regular) convex arcs (see also ‘French shield’, ‘Gothic shield’ with its following note, ‘Italian shield’, ‘rectangular shield’, ‘semicircular shield’, ‘shield 2)’, ‘Spanish-style shield’ and ‘triangular heart-shaped shield’).

[triarched triangular shield example] [triarched triangular shield example]
Arms and flag of Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina


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