The navigation buttons on the sidebar (apart from the a-z buttons)
are repeated at the bottom of each page.
| Capital City |
This is usually the city or town where the country's government
has its seat. Some countries have separate political and economic
capitals, and South Africa has separate capitals for the three
parts of the government. |
| Canton |
The corner of the flag uppermost and nearest the flag pole. This
is considered to be the point of highest honour on a flag. On
the United States flag the canton is occupied by the blue rectangle
with the fifty white stars representing the states of the Union. |
| Civil Ensign |
The flag flown by a civilian vessel from its ensign mast (the
mast at the stern of the vessel) or from its rear-most-mast. This
flag is also known as a merchant ensign as it is the flag used
by merchant vessels. |
| Fly |
The part of the flag furthest from the flag pole. |
| Government Ensign |
The flag flown by government-owned vessels which are not part
of the navy. Most countries do not have separate government ensign
and government vessels use the civil ensign. |
| Hoist |
The part of the flag nearest the flag pole. |
| Jack |
The flag flown at the bow (or front) of a vessel. |
| Main Cities |
A selection of the larger town and cities in the country. |
| National Flag |
The flag flown by citizens of the country and is usually used
to represent the country abroad. For some countries the state
flag would be used instead (eg. Argentina, Haiti and Spain). Many
countries, for example the United States, only have national flags,
using them for all purposes, including on vessels. |
| Naval Ensign |
The flag flown by naval vessels and often at naval bases. Naval
ensigns often take the form of the national flag in the canton
of either a plain coloured flag or a simple cross flag. |
| State Flag |
The flag flown by government and on diplomatic missions overseas.
It often consists of the national flag with the addition of the
country's coat-of-arms or emblem. Most countries do not have a
separate state flag. |
| Vexillology |
The study of flags and flag-related matters. From the latin vexilum meaning a standard. |
