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Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cable Number – Campaign)

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CABLE NUMBER

A code number identifying a precise shade of colour in the system developed by the Color Association of the United States, usually associated with a specific name, and used in the official specifications of all US government/military flags, and those of many states.

US National Flag and Flags of the State of Arkansas, and of theState of Wyoming, US (fotw)

For example, please note that the official specification for the Stars and Stripes and some sub-national flags (as in the examples illustrated above) require: Cable No. 70180. Old Glory Red, Cable No. 70001, White and Cable No. 70075, Old Glory Blue (fotw)

CABLED

The term for a charge, particularly an anchor, that is shown complete with its cable – but see ‘foul anchor’ (also ďż˝anchorďż˝ and ‘charge’).

Naval Jack of Ecuador; Flag of Melide, Switzerland; Flag of a Port Captain, Ecuador

CABLED CROSS

See ‘roped cross’.

(Seiyaku.com)

CABOSHED (CABOSSED or CABOOCHED)

Alternative heraldic terms used when an animal’s head is borne full-faced and with no part of the neck visible - cabossed or cabooched ďż˝ but see ‘affronty 1)’ (also ‘guardant’).

Flag of Gareďż˝nica, Croatia (fotw); Flag of Gjesdal, Norway (fotw); Flag of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, Germany (fotw)

CADENCY, MARK(S) OF

A heraldic term for the mark of difference added to an escutcheon to indicate that the bearer is heir to the owner, or a direct descendent of the family to which the primary coat of arms belongs, or that the person is a member of a related branch of the same family – differencing.

Please note however, that the form these marks take may vary from country to country – for example – the cadency label is used on several British royal banners in deference to (although not in strict accordance with) English heraldic practice, whilst traditional Scottish heraldry is more likely to employ a bordure and other European traditions may change the colour of a charge. It is suggested therefore, that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted for further details (see also ‘armorial bearings’, ďż˝bordureďż˝, ‘coat of arms’, ‘label 2)’ and ‘shield’).

The cadency marks of the 1st to the 6th son in English heraldry (Parker)

CADUCEUS

A heraldic term for the magic wand or rod of Hermes/Mercury (patron of commerce) with two serpents wound around a winged staff; formerly also a symbol of the occult and of alchemists (amongst others), it is now more often (although by no means exclusively) associated with medical institutions ďż˝ the staff of Hermes or of Mercury (see also ‘Staff of Asclepius’).

Flag of the Head of State Tax Administration, Ukraine (fotw); Emblem of the Army Medical Corps, US (fotw); Customs Flag, Belarus (fotw)

Please note that this should not be confused with the Staff of Asclepius as referenced above, which has only one snake on an unadorned staff and is symbolic of the medical profession.

CALATRAVA CROSS

See ‘cross of Calatrava’

Putative Banner of the Order of Calatrava, Spain (fotw)

CALL SIGN

Every vessel at sea is allocated an international call sign consisting of at least four letters for identification purposes by any means of signalling available, including flags – see ‘call sign hoist’ below.

Notes
a) The current international call sign is made up of two letters identifying the country of registration and additional flags identifying the particular ship ďż˝ but see ‘make her number’.
b) Most navies also prescribe tactical call signs according to their own naval signal codes and which is used intra-service for operational purposes. Warships also generally hoist their international call signs at the yardarm when entering or leaving harbour (see also ‘yardarm’).

CALL SIGN HOIST

A hoist of signal flags displaying the international call sign of a civil or naval vessel ďż˝ but see ‘make her number’ (also 'address group', 'call sign', ‘signal hoist’, ‘international code of signal flags’, ‘pendant number’ and ‘signal flag’).

NZAD (November-Zulu-Alpha-Delta) in the International Code of Signal Flags and the Call Sign Hoist of USS Blair (fotw)

CALTRAP (CALTROP or CALTHROP)

Alternative heraldic terms which describe a three or four-armed (usually but not invariably faceted) figure that represents an implement of war consisting of four spikes which, when thrown on the ground, always has one point facing upwards, and designed to injure men and/or horses ďż˝ a caltrop, calthrop, cheval-trap or galtrap (see also ‘faceted’).

Flag and Arms of Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal (fotw); Majorďż˝s Colour Green Regiment c1642, England (fotw)

CALVARY CROSS (or CALVARY)

In heraldry see ‘cross of Calvary’.

Flag of Geraardsbergen, Belgium (fotw)

CAMBRIDGE FLAG

See ‘continental colours’.

Cambridge Flag/Continental Colours 1775 ďż˝ 1777, US (fotw)

CAMP COLOUR (or COLOR)

1) An alternative term for a company colour in some regiments of British and Canadian foot guards (but see also ‘company colour’ and note below).

2) See ‘camp flag’.

3) A term, now largely obsolete, for a small military flag originally used to delineate the boundaries of a regiment's encampment and later used in some armies as a company guide flag, to mark turning points in manoeuvring troops (but see also ‘fanion 3)’).

Camp/Company Colour, No 2 Company, Governor General’s Foot Guards, Canada (Official Website)

Please note with regard to 1) that as far as is known this term is used by the British Grenadier Guards, the Grenadier Guards of Canada and the Governor General’s Foot Guards (also Canada) in place of company colour.

CAMP FLAG

In the British and some other army usage, a non-ceremonial flag, often containing the relevant badge against regimental colours, and used to indicate the presence of a unit, Corps or Regiment, or the position of their headquarters, within a camp or other location – a regimental, unit or headquarters flag (see also ‘badge 3)’, ‘emblem military and governmental/departmental’ and ‘regimental colours 2)’).

Adjutant Generalďż˝s Corps, UK (Graham Bartram); Royal Regiment of Artillery, UK (Graham Bartram); Training and Development Branch, Canada (fotw)

CAMP SILK

See ‘camp colour 1)’ and ‘company colour’.

CAMPAIGN

1) A series of events which are designed to achieve a specific goal or goals ďż˝ for example the campaign to adopt a flag (see also ‘flag design competition’).
2) In heraldry a word occasionally seen in place of the English term base ďż˝ see ‘base 1)’ (also ‘in base’).

Arms and Flag of Madalena, Portugal (fotw)

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