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Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Stella – Stumpmast)

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STELLA
STEMMED
STEPPED
STEPPED FLY
STEPPED GONFALON
STICKPIN (or STICK PIN) FLAG
STIRRUP
STONED
STORM FLAG (or ENSIGN)
STORM WARNING FLAG (or PENNANT)
STREAMER
STREAMER RETAINING RING
STRIKE (or STRIKE ONE’S COLOURS/COLORS)
STRINGED
STRIPE(S)
STRIPED
STUMPMAST (or STUMP MAST)

STELLA

The Latin/Italian for star and occasionally seen in place of that term – see star 1).

STEMMED

In heraldry see slipped.

Flag of Thalheim, Switzerland

STEPPED

The term used when the diagonal dividing line on a shield, banner of arms or a flag is created by a series of step-like indentations – but see the note below (also dancetty, serrated 1), stepped fly and stepped gonfalon).

Flag and Arms of Donja Stubica, Croatia

Please note that this term may also be used to describe other charges as appropriate, for example a "mount stepped" (as illustrated below), or see the "stepped pattern" on the flag of Artsakh – see mount (also cross of Calvary).

Flag of Argeriz, Portugal

STEPPED FLY

1) (adj) A term for the type of flag, now largely (if not wholly) obsolete, whose fly is extended by a rectangular projection (smaller in width and of varying length) centred on the horizontal meridian of the flag (see also engrailed fly, fly 1), meridian, stepped, schwenkel, stepped and tails).

2) See ‘stepped gonfalon below.

A selection of 19th century US House Flags (CS)

Notes
a) This was not considered an established term and had been introduced by the Editors as no (accurately descriptive) established alternative could then be found, however, since that time the Italian term “gonfaloni scalinati” has been discovered and is accordingly defined below.
b) At the time of writing it is unclear as to whether the flag having a straight-sided but angled fly (as illustrated below) should be considered as “engrailed“ or “stepped“ – see engrailed fly.

Flag of Betxi, Spain (Jose Antonio Jimenez Ruiz)

STEPPED GONFALON

(adj) The term (and a direct translation of the Italian “gonfaloni scalinati”) that may be used to describe those gonfalons whose fly forms a series of steps as in the examples given below (see also gonfalon and stepped).

Asymmetric Right (or Dexter) Stepped; Asymmetric Left (or Sinister) Stepped; Symmetrical Outwardly Stepped; Symmetrical Inwardly Stepped

STICKPIN (or STICK PIN) FLAG

See lapel flag 1).

Stickpin flag (pinmart.com)

STIRRUP

An integral part of a horse's saddle which is only blazoned separately if featured alone, or of a different tincture as illustrated below (see also blazon and tincture).

Flag of Sattel, Switzerland; Arms of Szczucin, Poland

STONED

In heraldry see gemmed 1).

Flag of Villarsel-le-Gibloux, Switzerland

STORM FLAG (or ENSIGN)

1) Specifically, in US military usage, the smallest size of national flag flown at army and marine corps posts – 5 feet (1.5 m) wide by 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 m) long, or half as wide and half as long as a marine corps post flag (see also garrison flag and post flag).

2) Generally, a smaller size of flag than that laid down for general use, and meant to be flown in stormy weather.

3) See storm warning flag below.

STORM WARNING FLAG (or PENNANT)

In US and some other usage, one of a system of flags and pennants used to warn mariners of severe weather in the area – a weather or weather warning flag (see also beach flag and maritime lifesaving flags).

US Coast Guard Hurricane Warning Flag and Gale Warning Pennant

STREAMER

1) A long narrow ribbon attached to a flag’s staff, such as those upon which battle honours are inscribed – see award streamer (also banderole, battle honour and streamer retaining ring).

2) The term for a long narrow flag or pennant, now obsolete, usually (but not invariably) showing livery colours, often fitted with a frame at the head and flown from a vessel for reasons of bravado or as decoration – sometimes (inaccurately) called a gonfalon (see also ancient 2), deck flags, frame 2), livery colours, masthead pennant 2), merchant pendant, pavisade, pennant 2) and postures.
3) See wimpel.

The Henri Grace à Dieu (Wikipedia), The Mary Rose (Wikipedia), English Royal Navy; The Salamander, Royal Scots Navy (Wikipedia)

Please note with regard to 2) that streamers supplied to the Henry Grace a Dieu (flagship of the English royal fleet) in 1514 are recorded as having ranged between 15 and 51 yards (13.5 m and 46 m) long.

STREAMER RETAINING RING

An often decorative, ridged band sometimes fitted to the staff of a military colour below the finial, and from which battle streamers are suspended (see also battle honour, colour 2), staff 2) and streamer 1)).

STRIKE (or STRIKE ONE’S COLOURS/COLORS)

(v) Nautical terms meaning to surrender – to lower or haul down one's flag, as a sign of that surrender (see also battle ensign(s), colours 4) and nail one’s colours to the mast).

French Frigate Striking Her Colours 1778 (Wikipedia)

STRINGED

In heraldry a term used when the strings of a bow or of a musical instrument, the carrying strap of a horn, or the tapes that hang below a prelate’s mitre, particularly when these are of a different tincture – but see corded (also bugle horn, crozier, garnished, lappets, mitre and tincture).

Flag of Cornellà del Terri, Spain; Flag of Baçal, Portugal; Flag of Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Ireland

STRIPE(S)

A band or bands of colour – whether disposed vertically, horizontally or diagonally – which generally reach one or more edges of a flag, but which do not cover the whole area – see striped (also appendix IX, bar, bend, converging stripes, expanding stripe(s), fess, multi-stripe, pale, triband, tricolour and bicolour).

National Flag of St. Vincent; National Flag of Gabon; National Flag of Mauritius

STRIPED

The term used to describe a flag having more than two parallel bands of colour – whether disposed vertically or horizontally – but see appendix IX, converging stripes, expanding stripe(s), multi-stripe, stripe, triband, and tricolour (also bicolour).

Civil Flag of Belgium; National Flag of Germany; National Flag of Uganda

STUMPMAST (or STUMP MAST)

A truncated mast (see also flying line, and mast 1)).

Please note that a stumpmast with a fixed yard at the truck giving it a T-shape is common right forward in the bows of those bulk cargo carrying vessels plying the inland waterways of Europe so as to allow for passing under bridges and other overhead obstructions. The taller of this type of mast is also often hinged for lowering to deck level for the same purpose (see also truck and yard).

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