New Zealand Flag Institute

GLOSSARY

 

 

 

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the badge of the colony as a colonial ensign.

 

BORDERING -

A mostly obsolete practice of edging a flag in a different colour to the field, for decorative purposes. Bordering also helped prevent fraying.

 

BORDURE -

In heraldry, a border running round the shield.

 

BREADTH -

A traditional measurement for flags. A breadth is 9" (23 cm) wide. A four breath-flag is accordingly 36" (91 cm) wide. The term originated with the custom of manufacturing flag cloth in 9" wide strips.

 

Breaking -

A flag is said to be broken when it is allowed to unfurl and fly free after having been furled and hoisted to the top of the flagpole.

 

BROAD PENNANT -

A short PENNANT with a SWALLOWTAIL.

 

Bunting

This can mean either:

1) A loosely woven coloured fabric, traditionally wool but often of polyester or other synthetic material. Used for making both flags and decorations.

2) Decoration, usually in national colours, made of bunting.

 

BURGEE -

A tapered flag or pennant that ends in a swallowtail of two points. Often used by a yachting club.

 

CAMP FLAG -