British Flags

its Development up to the e

rom the Middle English "flakken" to fly, one of a number of similar onomatopoeic words suggestive of the sound of something flapping in the wind. Its first appearance with a meaning coming within the above definition is as a specific term denoting a rectangular piece of material attached by one vertical edge, flown at the masthead of a ship, as a symbol of nationality or leadership. It was not until towards the end of the seventeenth century that the word b

principal terms to be met with, and indicate the extent to which their meaning has changed, but before doing so it is desirable to explain one or two technical or semi-technical terms employed in connection with the parts of a flag. The part next the staff or line to which it is attached is called the "hoist" by seamen, or heraldically the head or "chief"; the remainder of the flag is the "fly." The fly may be forked or swallow-tailed. If the end of the fly is divided by a simple incision which does no

l"; to have been then applied to the object by which the signal was made, or which signalised the presen

quivalent of the above, denoting a

nctive sign of a division of the Roman army.

e classical period. In late writers this word is used to cover any form of flag, and from the eighth century onwar

anner was primarily the personal flag of an emperor, king, lord or knight, and served to mark his presence in the army or fleet, and as a rallying point for his retainers. On the introduction of heraldic devices these were inserted upon it. It w

- Earl

flag) and in its earlier forms was probably of the shape shown on the Northumbrian coins about 925 a.d. [2] Among the Normans two centuries later it had a square body and ended

vey of the development of the flag can fairly ignore the need for such an explanation it will be necessary to treat it at some length. At different periods in history sinc

ff supporting some obj

r-wheeled chariot, supporting various

flag containing the arms o

r banner containi

rt of the twelfth century, but it is well known that the poem itself is much older. In this long poem of some 4000 lines the word occurs thrice only, and is co