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- E CROSS
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See two-and-a-half armed cross.
- EAGLE
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1) The name given to a French military colour whose staff displayed a finial in the form of a gilded eagle, used during the Napoleonic era and later Second Empire and based on the eagles of ancient Rome (see 2) below, finial and also colour 2)).
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2) The vexilloid carried as a main standard by ancient Roman legions - the aquila (see also aquilifer, 'signum 1)', standard 5), 'vexillary and vexilloid).
Please note that during the Napoleonic era the eagle-topped staff alone usually acted as a regimental standard whilst on campaign, with the colour itself being retained at a regimental depot.
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- EAST-SOUTH DIAGONAL
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A diagonal stripe running from the upper fly corner to the lower hoist corner, whose corners may or may not touch the corners of the flag but whose width is contained within the width of the flag at the fly and the length of the flag at its hoist (see also ascending diagonal, descending diagonal, east-west diagonal, north-east diagonal, north-south diagonal, south-east diagonal, south-north diagonal, west-east diagonal, and west-south diagonal).
Flag of Lazne Libverda, Czech Republic (fotw)
Please note that this term, whilst an extension of those existing and established, has been introduced by the editors
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- EAST-WEST DIAGONAL
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A diagonal stripe that runs from the lower hoist corner to the upper fly corner, whose corners generally touch the corners of the flag but whose width is entirely contained within the width of the flag a reduced bend sinister. See bend in Appendix VI and Appendix IX (also ascending diagonal, descending diagonal, east-south diagonal, north-east diagonal, north-south diagonal, south-east diagonal, south-north diagonal, west-east diagonal, west-north diagonal, and west-south diagonal).
![[east-west diagonal]](../images/v/vxt-d125.gif)
The flag of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (fotw)
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- ECCLESIASTIC (or ECCLESIASTICAL) FLAG
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See Christian flag.
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- EDGING (or EDGED)
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1) In vexillology a term that may be used in place of fimbriation (or fimbriated), particularly where that fimbriation does not follow the heraldic rule of tincture, and/or serves no heraldic purpose see fimbriation and rule of tincture.
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2) In strict heraldic practice the term that should be (but rarely if ever is) used in place of fimbriation when a charge so fimbriated touches the edge of a shield, banner of arms or flag.
Flag of Darda, Croatia (fotw)
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- ELECTORAL CAP (or BONNET)
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The term for a coronet (of varying design) now obsolete, that appeared above the arms of those German rulers who (until 1806) had the hereditary right to elect an emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, with a typical example being that above the Hanoverian inescutcheon on the royal standard of the UK from 1714 1816 (see also coronet 2), inescutcheon and royal standard.
The Royal Standard 1801 - 1816, UK (fotw)
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- EMBATTLED (or EMBATTLEMENT)
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(adj) A heraldic term for where a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, or its border, or the edge of an ordinary, is indented like a castle battlement - battled, battelly, crenelled, embattle, or kernelled (see also armorial bearings, banner 1), coat of arms 2), ordinary and shield).
![[Bauten Germany]](../images/v/vxt-d560.gif)
![[embattled shield]](../images/v/vxt-d560a.gif)
![[embattled shield]](../images/v/vxt-d560b.gif)
Flag of Bautzen, Germany (fotw); embattled shields (CS); Flag of the Order of St Joachim, Austria (fotw)
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- EMBLEM
- 1) Generically, a design, whether heraldic or otherwise, that is symbolic of a country, entity or person.
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2) Specifically, a design of heraldic or other symbols which is not a set of armorial bearings/coat of arms or a badge as defined herein. In a commercial context a logo is often used as an emblem (see also anti-heraldry, badge, coat of arms emblem, military and governmental, 'emblem, state and national', 'charge', and logo).
- Emblem, Military or Governmental
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A design of heraldic or other symbols which is not a set of armorial bearings/coat of arms or a badge as defined herein, but which is used to denote a particular branch or division of the military, or a specific department within a government structure but see badge 3) (also camp flag, coat of arms, emblem 2), emblem, state or national', 'charge', logo, military crest and ships crest).
![[government and military emblem]](../images/v/vxt-d127.gif)
National Defence Force, RSA (fotw).
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- Emblem, State or National
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A design of heraldic or other symbols which is not a set of armorial bearings/coat of arms or a badge as defined herein, but which is used to fulfil the function of a coat of arms in a national context. National emblems often epitomise the individuality and/or spirit of the state, and can be placed on a flag to distinguish it from others, which may be similar as, for example, those on the civil ensign of Italy and national flag of Mexico (see also badge, coat of arms, emblem 2) 'emblem, military or governmentall', and 'charge').
![[state or national emblem]](../images/v/vxt-d129.gif)
National Emblem, Mexico (fotw).
Please note however, that the emblems of some countries such as those of Mexico (as shown above), or of Italy whilst conforming to the definition as detailed herein are officially described as coats of arms.
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- EMBOWED
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A heraldic term for when the edge of an ordinary or a charge, an animal or of the arm of a man, or the division line on a shield, banner of arms or a flag is bent or bowed (see also charge 1), ordinary and pointed).
Arms of Piran, Slovenia (fotw); Flag of Seftigen, Switzerland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Velika, Croatia; Flag of Dιmoret, Switzerland (fotw); Arms of Bloke, Slovenia (fotw)
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- EMBRACED
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See interlaced.
- EMBROIDER
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(v) The use of needlework to create or enhance a design - employed especially on military colours and flags for indoor display (see also 'colour 2)', 'colours 2) and indoor flag).
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- EMPALE
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See impale.
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- EMPHASIZED
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See garnished.
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- ENAMELS
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See appendix III.
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- ENCENIATOR
- A medieval term, now obsolete, for a mounted standard bearer.
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- ENDORSE
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See 'palet' in Appendix VI.
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- ENDORSED
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See addorsed and appendix VI.
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- ENFLAMED
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See inflamed.
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- ENGRAILED
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(adj) A heraldic term for where a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, or the edge of an ordinary, is cut into a series of indented curves or half circles strung together - that is with the half-circles facing inward and points outward - ingrailed (see also armorial bearings, banner 1), coat of arms, invected, ordinary shield, and scalloped).
Flag of Genthod, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Vύcapy, Czech Republic (fotw)
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- ENGRAILED FLY
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(adj) A term for a form of flag, now obsolete, whose fly either came to a point or was extended by a central projection, but in which both sides form a concave arc (see also ogival).
From left: 14th Century Flag of Tunis (fotw), 14th Century Flag of Sibenik, Croatia (Tomislav Todorovic)
Please note that this is not an established term, but has been introduced by the Editors since no established alternative could be found.
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- ENHANCED
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A heraldic term for when the main ordinary on a shield, banner of arms or flag is placed in a higher position than its proper place - raised (see also abased and ordinary).
Please note however, that enhanced has a slightly different meaning when applied to the vexillological terms enhanced bend and enhanced bend sinister given below.
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- ENHANCED BEND
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See north-south diagonal (also ascending diagonal, bend in Appendix VI, descending diagonal, 'east-west diagonal', south-north diagonal and west-east diagonal).
![[enhanced bend example]](../images/v/vxt-d133.gif)
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- ENHANCED BEND SINISTER
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See south-north diagonal (also ascending diagonal, bend sinister in Appendix VI, descending diagonal, east-west diagonal, north-south diagonal and west east diagonal).
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![[enhanced bend sinister example]](../images/v/vxt-d135.gif)
