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Dictionary of Vexillology: H (Hochflagge - Honourable Ordinaries)

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HOCHFLAGGE (HOCHFORMATFLAGGE or HOCHFORMATFAHNE)

See ‘vertically hoisted flag 1)’ and its following note.

Hochflagge/Vertically Hoisted Flag of Sankt Wolfgang, Germany (fotw)

HOIST

1) That edge or section of a flag, which lies next to the flagpole, mast or staff – the distance line (see also ‘Appendix I, ‘fly’, ‘heading’, ‘obverse’ and ‘reverse’).

2) See ‘signal hoist’.

3) (v) The act of raising a flag.

4) The width of a flag – see ‘width’.

HOIST-CHEVRON

See ‘chevron 1)’

Flag of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, Brazil (fotw)

HOIST-DIAGONAL

A direct translation of the Dutch term hijsdiagonaal but see ‘bend’, ‘per bend’ and ‘descending diagonal 2)’.

Flag of Kl�tersk� Lhota, Czechia (fotw)

HOIST-TRIANGLE (or HOISTTRIANGLE)

The term – and a direct translation of the Dutch hijsdriehoek - sometimes used to describe a triangular charge based on the hoist – a simple triangle, or (inaccurately) a simple pile/triangle throughout – but see ‘pile 1)’ and ‘triangle 1)’ (also ‘equilateral triangle’).

National Flag of the Philippines (fotw); Flag of Benafer, Spain (fotw); National Flag of the Czechia, (fotw)

HOIST FLAG (or BURGEE)

1) See ‘hoist 3)’.
2) In UK usage, that flag (or burgee) that must be flown by ordinary members of the Royal Yachting Association – see ‘yachting crown’ and its following note.

Ordinary member’s House Flag and Burgee of the Royal Yachting Association, UK (fotw)

HOIST OF FLAGS

See ‘signal hoist’ (also ‘International Code of Signal Flags’ and ‘signal flag’).

US4 (Uniform-Sierra-4) in The International Code of Signals or “Nothing Can be Done Until The Weather Moderates” (fotw)

HOIST STRIP

See ‘heading’.

HOISTED (or HOISTING) FLAG

Those terms – and translations of the German “hissflagge” or “hissfahne” used in German language vexillology – to describe a conventional flag (that is a flag generally longer than it is wide) which is hoisted on a flagpole in the normal way – but see the note below (also ‘banner 2), ‘cross bar’, ‘flag 1)’, ‘gonfalon 1)’, ‘hanging flag’, ‘outrigger flag’ and ‘vertically hoisted flag 1)’).

Hoisted Flag and Banner of Albisheim, Germany (fotw)

Please note that this term is only employed when such a flag is presented (either visually or in discussion) with another - such as a banner, gonfalon or hanging flag - that is designed to be hung from a cross bar or is otherwise vertically orientated.

HOISTLINE (or HOIST LINE)

A piece of rope sewn into the heading of a flag to which the toggle (at the top of the heading) and becket (or eye splice) in the other end below the flag, or Inglefield clips (at both ends) are attached and by means of which the flag is bent on (or attached) to the halyard (see also ‘Appendix I’, ‘becket’, ‘bend on’, ‘eye splice’, ‘halyard’, ‘toggle’, and ‘Inglefield clips’).

Please note that the hoistline is described as a distance line in US military specifications.

HOLIDAY COLOURS (or COLORS)

In US naval usage, a larger than usual set of colours flown by a vessel or shore installation on holidays and other special occasions (see also ‘ceremonial ensign’, ‘garrison flag’ and ‘Sunday ensign’).

HOLY LAMB (or HOLY LAMB OF GOD)

See ‘agnus dei’.

Arms and Former Flag of Preston, UK (fotw)

HOLY SPIRIT'S CROWN

See ‘Crown of the Holy Spirit’.

Flag and Arms of Manigoto, Portugal (fotw)

HOMEWARD BOUND PENNANT

In USN usage and in some others the term for a paying off pennant - see ‘paying off pennant’.

HONORARY DISTINCTION(S)

A collective term for any addition (or additions) to a flag, colour or arms that is (or are) granted in recognition of an act (or acts) of courage – see ‘augmentation of honour’ and ‘battle honour’.

Arms and Government Ensign of Malta 1943–64 (fotw)

HONOUR (or HONOR) BANNER

The term – and a direct translation of the German Ehrenbanner – for those flags (usually decorated with a fringe) that were awarded to various non-military organizations for excellent performance by the former GDR and possibly other Communist bloc countries – but see ‘award flag’ (also ‘banner 3)’ and ‘touring flag’).

Honour Banner for Anti-Imperialist Solidarity, GDR (Eugene Ipavec); Honour Banner for Efforts in Developing the Town of Leipzig, GDR (Eugene Ipavec)

HONOUR (or HONOR) ENSIGN

See ‘ensign of honour’.

Honour Ensign/Ensign of Honour, Russian Federation (fotw & CS)

HONOUR (or HONOR) FLAG

1) The flag, now obsolete, that was selected to represent those nations which were working towards world peace prior to the foundation of the United Nations Organization, and in official/semi-official use (particularly, but not exclusively, in the USA) from 1943 to c1948 - the four freedoms flag.

2) The flag that was presented to those towns and districts in Australia who subscribed twice their quota of funds to the Commonwealth Government's Seventh War Loan in 1918.

3) One of the flags presented in 1832 by the government of Belgium to honour those municipalities who had made a significant contribution towards the independence of that cuntry.

4) See ‘flag of honour’.

The Honour Flag (fotw); Flag of Honour, Austria-Hungary 1850-1918 (fotw); The Honour Flag, Australia 1918 (fotw)

Please note with regard to 1) that the red bars – optionally blue or green and possibly yellow – were said to represent the four freedoms (freedom of speech and expression, freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, freedom from want and freedom from fear) for which the Second World War was being fought, and that the alternative name of four freedoms flag was in occasional use until 1945.

HONOUR (or HONOR) JACK

See ‘jack of honour’.

Honour Jack/Jack of Honour (Forces Navales Françaises Libres), France (fotw)

HONOUR (or HONOR) POINT

1) On flags, originally a US term for that position on a flag where the colour or charge with the greatest or highest symbolism is placed, almost always the upper hoist canton – point of honour sometimes called the place of honour (see also ‘canton 1)’, ‘quarter 1)’ and ‘union’).

2) In heraldry, a point on the shield slightly above the exact centre - the fesse- or fess-point (see also ‘shield’).

Please note with regard to 1), not to be confused with the position of honour - see ‘position of honour’.

HONOUR (or HONOR) POSITION

See ‘position of honour’.

HONOURABLE (or HONORABLE) ORDINARIES

In heraldry see ‘ordinary’.

Examples: Chief; Cross; Pale; Saltire; Fess; Pile; Chevron; Quarter; Bend

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