Glossary

Explanation of flag terms used on this site
field
The background of a flag made up of a solid color; often called the “ground”
charged
an emblem or design placed on the field of a flag
hoist
the vertical width of the flag; the side of the flag closest the pike (flagpole)
fly
the horizontal length of the flag; the free end of the flag
dexter
the right side of the flag to a shield bearer, the left side of the flag to an observer
This site will typically use left/right instead of dexter/sinister for clarity
sinister
the left side of the flag to a shield bearer, the right side of the flag to an observer
This site will typically use left/right instead of dexter/sinister for clarity
obverse
the front face of a flag with the hoist (and pike) to the left of the observer
reverse
the back face of a flag with the hoist (and pike) to the right of the observer
triband
a flag featuring three parallel stripes (vertical or horizontal) of two colors
tricolor
a flag featuring three parallel stripes (vertical or horizontal) of three colors
bicolor
a flag featuring two parallel stripes (vertical or horizontal) of differing color
quadrisection
a flag divided into four equal sections often with alternating colors; each quarter is called a canton
canton
one of the quarters of a flag; most commonly used to describe the first canton (upper hoist canton)
chief
the top horizontal section of a flag or shield
bend
a diagonal stripe of color extending from corner to corner
saltire
a diagonal cross extending from corner to corner
cross
two stripes of the same color intersected at right angles
cross bottany
a cross with ends of trefoils (three circles)
stripe
a solid band of color extending to at least one flag edge
border (outer)
a band of color surrounding a field (panel) of another color; outer borders touch the edges of the flag
border (inner)
a border positioned inside another border
panel
area of a flag surrounded by a border
fimbriated
separating one area from another with a thin band or line of color, usually white
chevron
a V-shaped band of color
broad pennant
a flag with the fly-end cut into a swallowtail
Cable color
a number corresponding to a fabric swatch color from The Standard Color Reference of America, produced by The Color Association of the United States
Pantone color
color values from the Pantone Matching System (PMS)

Sources