Carrot Top

The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 BC, when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags - some were even made out of wood or metal. Flags were originally used for the purpose of identification or to signal to others. Although flags are still used for many of those reasons today, flags have also come to be used for much more.

Flags have also been important symbols on land as well as on sea. Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to harbors, often to let them know they had an infectious or diseased crew aboard. Flags are still used today to let sailors know what weather conditions await at sea. The military also made use of flags to rally its troops. In military times, capturing an enemy’s flag was considered an honorable seizure.

Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world’s countries, the use of national flags didn’t become commonplace until the 18th century. National flags are now used to identify each country and their symbolism.

When Mount Everest and the moon were conquered, and when new found lands were discovered, explorers would raise flags as signs of their being the first to tread these unchartered lands. Flags have also been used historically, many with negative consequences. For example, ancient pirates used flags decorated with the feared skull and crossbones emblem, and the Nazis used a flag decorated with a swastika.

Today, flags are still used to signify crucial events. For example, if you are offside in a soccer game, the linesman raises his flag, or when an auto race begins a flag is traditionally waved to start the race.

In fact, the numerous uses for flags and their examination have become so popular that the practice of ‘vexillology’, which means the academic study of flags, has been developed.

Badge: A coat of arms.

Base or Field: The background or main color of the flag.

Banner: A flag-like cloth draped, or stretched, between two anchor points

Bicolor: A flag that has two colors, usually of equal size.

Bordering: A different-colored edge around the outside of the flag, or part of a flag.

Civil flag: The version of the country’s national flag, for use by private citizens.

Defacing: Changing a flag by adding something to it, especially concerning colonial flags. Note: that the term ‘defacing’ doesn’t mean ‘vandalizing’ when used in reference to flags.

Differencing: Referring to the design of one flag as a variation of another flag - either by changing a color, or adding or removing a charge, etc. For example, the flag of Italy was ‘differenced’ from that of France by changing the blue stripe to green.

Ensign: A flag used by ships at sea.

Field: A background or predominant color.

Finial: The ornament on the end of a flagstaff or flagpole.

Fly: The edge or end of a flag furthest away from the pole.

Halyard: A rope used to raise a flag.

Honor point: The place on a flag where the color, or charge, with the greatest, or highest, symbolism is placed - almost always the upper left hand side.

Mast or pole: A device used to fly a flag.

Pennant: (or pennon), any triangular or roughly triangular flag.

Proportion: (or ratio), the relationship of a flag’s width to its length, for example the Russian flag has a proportion of 1:2.

Saint Andrew’s cross: A cross stretching from corner to corner of a flag, forming an ‘X’, also called a ’saltire’.

Saint George’s Cross: A cross with arms vertical and horizontal, forming a ‘+’, stretching out to the edges of the flag.

Scandinavian cross: A Saint George’s Cross placed off-centered, towards the hoist. Seen on Scandinavian and Nordic flags.

Swallowtail: A flag that comes to two or three points at the fly end.

Vexillogram: A picture or design specification for a flag.

Vexillographer: A person who designs flags.

Vexillology: The academic study of flags.

Vexillophile: A flag collector or flag enthusiast.

Wearing: A synonym for ‘flying’, when applied to the ensign of a ship at sea.

International code flags are used to signal between two ships or between ship and shore. Also called signaling flags, they are a set of flags of different colors, shapes and markings which used singly or in combination have different meanings. The flags include 26 square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten numeral pendants, one answering pendant, and three repeaters.

Only a few colors can be readily distinguished at sea. These are: red, blue, yellow, black, and white. You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and blue.

One-flag signals are urgent signals. Two-flag signals are mostly distress and maneuvering signals. Three-flag signals are for points of the compass, relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation, also general code and decode signals. Four-flags are used for geographical signals, names of ships, bearings, etc. Five-flag signals are those relating to time and position. Six-flag signals are used when necessary to indicate north or south or east or west in latitude and longitude signals. Seven-flags are for longitude signals containing more than one hundred degrees.

Click here to see the nautical flags.

A - I have a diver down.
B - I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods.
C - Affirmative.
D - Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty.
E - I am altering my course to starboard.
F - I am disabled.
G - I require a pilot.
H - I have a pilot on board.
I - I am altering my course to port.
J - I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board: keep well clear of me, or I am leaking dangerous cargo.
K - I wish to communicate with you..
L - At sea: You should stop your vessel instantly.
M - My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water.
N - Negative.
O - Man Overboard.
P - The Blue Peter. At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: “My nets have come fast upon an obstruction”.
Q - My vessel is “healthy” and I request free pratique.
R - The way is off my ship. With one or more numerals, distance in nautical miles.
S - I am operating astern propulsion.
T - Keep clear of me.
U - You are running into danger.
V - I require assistance.
W - I require medical assistance.
X - Stop carrying out your intentions.
Y - I am dragging my anchor.
Z - I require a tug.

* N and C together (No and Yes) is used as a distress signal.