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Dictionary of Vexillology: L (Labarum - Lymphad)

Last modified: 2012-05-13 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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LABARUM
A flag based on the vexillum and combining Christian symbols with those of the Roman military, introduced by the Emperor Constantine in the early 4th Century AD, and later used as an imperial standard (see also ‘vexillum’).

Please note - not to be confused with a cantabrian labarum (see 'cantabrian labarum').

LABEL
See ‘cadency, mark of’.

[label example]
British Royal Standard Showing the Label of HRH Princess Ann (fotw)

LAMB OF GOD
See ‘agnus dei’.

[lamb of God]
Flag of Berlikum, The Netherlands (fotw)

LANCE
A long light-weight spear with which some cavalry regiments were formerly armed, and upon which the standard or guidon was also carried - now restricted to historical or ceremonial use (see also ‘guidon 1) & 2)’, ‘lance flag’, ‘lance pennon 1)’, ‘staff 2)’ and ‘standard 2)’).
LANCE FLAG (or PENNANT)
A small flag or pennant, usually swallow-tailed or triangular and of generally simple (bicolour) design, formerly carried below the lance head by those cavalry regiments so armed, or currently by some mounted police units in parade dress, and now restricted to historical/ceremonial use - a lance pennon (see also ‘banneret 2)’, ‘pennant 2)’, ‘lance’ and ‘lance pennon 1)’).

[lance flag] [lance flag] [lance flag]
From left: Lance Flags, British c1840; Mounted Police, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia

Please note that the use of lance-armed cavalry and the general design of their flag or pennant derive from Polish practice – Poland having been the country from which lance-armed light cavalry was adopted in the late 18th century.

LANCE PENNON
1)The term for an armigerous lance flag, either triangular, either fork-tailed or square-ended according to rank, and carried by a medieval mounted knight (see also ‘armigerous’, ‘banneret 2)’, ‘lance’, ‘lance flag’ and ‘pennoncier’).
2) See ‘lance flag’.
LANCEOLATE
(adj) A term used that may be used to describe a rounded fly – but see ‘ogival’ (also ‘descate’, ‘guidon 3)’, ’fly’, ‘standard 4)’ and ‘standard 5)’).

eample example Lesna, Poland
Examples (2); Flag of Lesna, Poland (Jarig Bakker)

Please note that the differences between “ogival” and “lanceolate” are often very slight, and we suggest that both entries be consulted.

LANDESFARBEN
See 'national colours 2)' and 'state colours 3)' (also 'livery colours').
LANGUAGE FLAGS
See ‘linguistic flags’.
LANGUED
The heraldic term used when the tongue of the beast, if shown, is of different tincture than the rest of the body (see also ‘armed 2)’, ‘attired’, ‘beaked’, ‘membered’ and ‘tincture’). See ‘appendix V’

Östergötland, Sweden Aalter, Belgium Uri, Switzerland
Flag of Östergötland, Sweden (fotw); Flag of Aalter, Belgium (fotw); Flag of Uri, Switzerland (fotw)

LANYARD
1) In French military usage – and a translation of fourragère – the term for those cords and tassels that may decorate a (usually) military colour – see ‘cord 1)’ (also ‘colour 2)’, ‘cravat 1)’, ‘jack of honour’, ‘lanyard pennant’ and ‘tassels’).
2) See ‘halyard’.
3) See ‘dress knot’ and its following note.
LANYARD PENNANT
In French Naval usage, the term – and a translation of flamme de fourragère - for a tapered pennant in various colours, charged with the Croix de Guerre and having a rounded (or lanceolate) fly, which is flown to indicate that a vessel has received citations for a certain number of military decorations (see also ‘cravat 1) and its following note, ‘fanion 3)’, ‘jack of honour’, ‘lanceolate’ , ‘lanyard 1)’ and ‘pennant 2)’).

[Lanyard pennants]
From left: 6 Citations for the Legion d’Honneur, 1914-18 (fotw); 4-5 Citations for the Médaille Militaire 1939-45 (fotw)

LAPEL FLAG
1) A metal or plastic flag – sometimes showing a badge or coat of arms below - worn on the dress or coat lapel as a patriotic or political symbol, originally characteristic of the former Soviet Union and of the United States, but now widely used elsewhere – a flag badge or flag pin.
2) A paper flag see ‘flag day 2)’.
LAPPED
A term sometimes incorrectly used to describe the leaves of a rose in place of the heraldic barbed – see ‘barbed’.
LARMES
See ‘gouttes’.

[larmes]
Flag of Loudoun County, Virginia, US (fotw)

LATE-GOTHIC (or LATE-GOTHIC-STYLE) SHIELD
The term sometimes used to describe a round-bottomed or Spanish-style shield - but see note below (also ‘rectangular shield’, ‘shield 2)’ and ‘spanish-style shield’).

Please note that the terms gothic and late-gothic appear to be used indiscriminately to describe either a pointed or a round-bottomed shield, and the Editors suggest therefore, that both these terms should be restricted to those with a pointed base.

LATIN CROSS
See ‘appendix VIII’.
LATIN CROSS THROUGHOUT
See ‘appendix VIII’, and ‘off-centred cross 2)’ with its following note.
LAUNCHING FLAGS
Those flags flown from a vessel that is being launched prior to fitting out, and which in naval usage are generally (but not invariably) of a prescribed type and sequence (see also ‘dressing lines’ and ‘flag exchange’.

[launching flags]
Launching of HMS St Albans 1747, UK (portcities)

LAY UP (or LAYING UP) COLOURS (or COLORS)
(v) The ceremonial deposit of regimental, unit, service or national colours in a church, cathedral or museum when they are worn out, or when the regiment or military organisation is disbanded (see also ‘colour 2)’ and ‘colours 2)’.
LAYERED CROSS
A term that may be used to describe a cross whose horizontal arm differs in colour from its vertical as in the flag of the Netherlands Antilles (see also ‘cross 1)’, ‘layered saltire’ and ‘trinitarian cross’).

Netherland Antilles Canada Steamship Belov, Czech Republic
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (fotw); Former Flag of The Canada Steamship line (fotw); Flag of Belov, Czech Republic (fotw)

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

Also please note that this term should only be used in the description of flags as illustrated above, and does not include crosses which show two colours because of a fimbriation, or are divided in ways other than those shown.

LAYERED SALTIRE
A term that may be used to describe any saltire where an arm of one colour overlays (or apparently overlays) an arm of a different colour as in the examples given below (see also ‘layered cross’ and ‘saltire’.

Rubi, Spain orni Cerekev, Czech Republic Alfarràs, Spain Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA
Flag of Rubi, Spain (fotw); Flag of Horní Cerekev, Czech Republic; City of Alfarràs, Spain (fotw); Flag of Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA (fotw)

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

Also please note that this term should only be used in the description of flags as illustrated above, and does not include saltires which show two colours because of a fimbriation, or are divided in ways other than those shown.

LEADING EDGE
An alternative term for the dexter edge of a vertically hung banner or a gonfalon – see ‘dexter edge’.

Please note, that this term has been introduced by the Editors as a vexillogical alternative to the heraldically derived ”dexter edge”.

LEAVED
A term sometimes used in heraldic blazoning to indicate that a flower or plant is shown complete with its stalk and leaves (see also ‘barbed’, ‘fructed’, ‘seeded’ and ‘slipped’).

leaved  leaved 
Flag of Sins, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Wynau, Switzerland (fotw)

LEECH
The edge of a sail that lies opposite to its yard, and is used (in place of “at the peak” on gaff-rigged vessels) to indicate the position of an ensign when flown from a halyard running from the outer end of the mainsail boom to the mast of a Bermuda rigged sailing yacht - instead of from an ensign staff at the stern (see also ‘ensign 1)’, ‘gaff’, ‘halyard’, ‘peak’ and ‘yard’).

ensign from the leech ensign from the peak
Ensign Flown From The Leech: Ensign At The Peak

LEISURE ENSIGN
See ‘yacht ensign’ under ‘ensign’.

Royal Norwegian Yacht Club
Ensign of the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club (fotw)

LEGGED
See ‘membered’.
LENGTH
1) That dimension of a flag which is measured horizontally from the outside edge of the hoist (generally excluding the heading), to the opposite extreme edge of the fly (see also ‘Appendix I’, ‘width’, ‘heading’, ‘hoist’ and ‘fly’).
2) The longer dimension of a stripe or band within a flag – howsoever orientated (see also ‘stripe’).
3) The dimension of an emblem, charge, arms, shield or badge measured horizontally, when it appears on a flag – but see the note below, ‘height’ and ‘width across’ (see also ‘badge’, ‘charge’, ‘emblem’ 'establishment of arms' and ‘shield’).

length example

Please note that definition 3) is given with regard to the consistent use of proportions when describing a flag and its charges, however, it is suggested that when giving the actual dimensions of any such charge the phrase ‘width across’ should be used for its horizontal measurement and the word ‘height’ for its vertical size (see also ‘dimensions’ and ‘proportions’).

LESSER ARMS
See under ‘arms’.
LETTER OF MARQUE (and/or REPRISAL)
See ‘privateer(s)’.
LIBERTY CAP
See ‘cap of liberty’.
LIGATURE
See ‘monogram’.
LIGHTFASTNESS
See ‘fastness’.
LINED
1) See ‘edging 1)’.
2) A term sometimes used to describe the detail lines within a charge or a figure – but see ‘garnished’ and ‘masoned’ (also ‘charge 1)’.
3) In heraldry a term for the lining (either fur or fabric) of a mantle or pavilion, or if a bear or greyhound has a line affixed to its collar (see also ‘mantle’ and ‘pavilion’).
LINGUISTIC FLAGS
1) Flag-like images that are intended to link together communities which speak the same language irrespective of national boundaries, and which are usually an amalgam of the national flags concerned.
2) Flags that are intended to represent a link through the use of a common natural language, generally (but not invariably) countries previously held by colonial ties – such as that of the Francophonie.
3) Flags that are intended to represent one of the constructed languages, for example Esperanto.
4) Flag images, usually (but not invariably) those of national flags, which are used on the Internet (and on other documentation) to indicate in which languages the material on a particular site are available for the convenience of the reader.

amalgam flag for English language amalgam flag for German langauge
Amalgam Language Flags for English and German (CS)

Francophonie Esperanto
From left: Flag of the Francophonie; Esperanto flag (fotw)

Please note with regard to 1) that these images do not (as far as is known) exist in cloth.
LIVERY BANNER
The term, now obsolete, for a small square flag in the deceased person’s livery colours, usually for use at that person’s funeral (see also ‘badge banner’, ‘livery colours’, ‘great banner’, ‘grumphion’ and ‘bannerole’).
LIVERY COLOURS (or COLORS)
The principal colours (often - but not exclusively - the first metal and first colour) of a coat of arms and generally (but not exclusively) shown as two or three stripes on flags (see also ‘banner 2)’, ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘hanging flag’, ‘rule of tincture’, ‘state colours 3)’ and ‘streamer 2)’).
2) The principal colours of a flag unrelated to a coat of arms - but see ‘national colours 2)’ and ‘state colours 3)’.

[Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example]
Arms and Flag of Cerklie na Gorenjskem, Slovenia (fotw); The State Arms and National Flag of Germany (fotw); Arms and Flag of Głubczyce, Poland (fotw)

Please note that the term is derived from the colours – usually taken from a family’s arms - worn as a livery by the servants of that family.

LOGO
1) A design serving as the symbol of a commercial enterprise or educational establishment, or other entity, that is not a coat of arms, seal, badge or emblem as defined herein (see also ‘badge 1) &-3)’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘corporate flag’, all entries under ‘emblem’, ‘house flag 1)’, ‘institutional flag, official’, institutional flag, unofficial’ and seal.
2) A simplified version of an existing badge or of an emblem that is often used in lieu of these for the same purpose.

[logo flag]
Flag of the Portuguese Railway Company (fotw)

LOGO ON A BEDSHEET (or LOB)
A term that is intended to be derogatory, and to describe any flag bearing an emblem, badge, seal, shield or arms upon a plain field – a bed sheet flag or building site flag – but see ‘seal on a bedsheet’ with the note below, ‘armorial flag’, ‘armorial ensign’ and ‘seal flag’ (also ‘armorial bearing’, ‘badge 1) - 3)’, ‘coat of arms 2)’, all entries under ‘emblem’, ‘logo’, ‘plain 2)’ ‘seal’, and ‘shield 1)’).

Please note that the Editors would suggest a certain degree of caution when using this term - it was intended to be derogatory and the definition given above could equally apply to several types of flag (for example the civic/municipal flags of Japan) to which any such implication would be inappropriate.

LONE STAR FLAG
A colloquial term used to describe the flag of the US state of Texas, which was introduced in 1839.as that of an independent republic (see also ‘state flag 2)’).

[Texas flag]
Flag of the State of Texas, US (fotw)

LONG CROSS
See ‘Latin cross’ in ‘appendix VIII’.
LOOP (or LOOP, THE)
See ‘flag adjutant’.
LOOPS
A term that may be used for the increasingly (but by no means entirely) obsolete practice of fixing a flag or gonfalon to its pole, staff or crossbar by a series of attached fabric loops (see also ‘gonfalon 1)’, ‘heading’, ‘ties’ with its following note, ‘ring 4)’ and ‘sleeve 2)’).

[loops on a flag]
Gonfalon of Sutivan, Croatia (fotw)

Please note that this is practice is almost certainly based on the earlier use of ties – see ‘ties’.

LORD HIGH ADMIRAL'S FLAG
See ‘anchor flag’.

[lower fly]
Flag of The Lord High Admiral 1685 - 1688, England (fotw)

LOWER FLY (or LOWER FLY CANTON)
In vexillology a term for that quarter of a flag which occupies the lower fly - the fourth or lower fly canton (see also 'canton 3)' and 'fly').

[lower fly]

LOWER HOIST (or LOWER HOIST CANTON)
In vexillology a term for that quarter of a flag which occupies the lower hoist, - the third or lower hoist canton (see also ‘canton 3)’ and ‘hoist 1)’).

[lower hoist]

LOWERED
See ‘abased’.
LOZENGE
1) In vexillology the term for a diamond-shape – a rhombus.
2) In heraldry a diamond shape, usually shown with its upper and lower angles slightly acute – but see ‘square lozenge’ and ‘fusil’ (also ‘lozengy’, ‘lozengy bendy’ and ‘mascle’).

[Brazil flag]   [lozenge]
National Flag of Brazil (fotw); Example

Please note with regard to 2), that in English heraldry a lozenge is also the escutcheon upon which a spinster or a widow’s coat of arms is placed (see also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘escutcheon’ and ‘coat of arms’).

LOZENGE-VOIDED
See ‘mascle

Croatian river police
Pennant of the River Police, Croatia (fotw)

’.
LOZENGY
1) In heraldry, a term for when the field of a banner of arms or shield is covered with lozenges or diamonds in alternating colours – fusilly (see also ‘banner’, ‘fusil’, ‘lozenge 2)’ above and ‘lozengebendy’ below).
2) In vexillology as above, however, the term may also be applied to a field covered with lozenges or diamond shapes set at an angle – see ‘lozengy bendy’ below.

Slocum Society International Monaco - 18th century
Slocum Society International (CS); Banner of Arms 18th Century, Monaco (fotw)

Please note however, that on flags this term may also be applied to a field covered with lozenges or diamond shapes set at an angle such as those on the flag of the German state of Bavaria, whereas in heraldic practice these would be lozengy bendy (or bendy sinister).

LOZENGY BENDY (or BENDY SINISTER)
The heraldic term used when the field of a shield or banner of arms is covered with lozenges or diamond shapes in alternating colours and set at an angle – fusilly bendy or bendy sinister– see ‘bendy’ and ‘bendy sinister’ in ‘appendix VI’ (also ‘banner 1)’, ‘fusil’, ‘lozenge 2)’ and ‘lozengy 1)’ above).

[a Lozengy flag]
The Arms and Flag of the State of Bavaria, Germany (fotw)

LYMPHAD
The heraldic term (more common in Scottish than in English heraldry) for a ship with a single mast and usually (but not exclusively) oars – a birlinn, antique or ancient ship – but see the note below.

Please note that a vessel with oars but more than one mast should be blazoned “galley”, and that in English heraldry, a single- masted, medieval nef or cog (without oars) is often (but by no means exclusively) blazoned an “ancient” or “antique ship” – which term can (and does) include sailing vessels with more than one mast – see ‘cog 2)’, ‘galley’ and ‘nef’.

[lymphad] [lymphad] [lymphad] [lymphad]
Banner of Arms of New Brunswick, Canada (fotw); Banner of Arms of the Western Isles, Scotland (fotw); Flag of Gzira, Malta (fotw); Flag and Arms of Kostrena, Croatia (fotw)

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