- OBVERSE
- The face, or more important side, of a flag; and in the Western tradition
always depicted with the hoist to the observers left - the dexter in heraldry (see also
'double-sided' and
'two-sided'.
Please note however, that in Arabic tradition the
flag is generally depicted with the hoist to the observers right the sinister
in heraldry (see also sinister;
dexter,
reverse and
sinister hoist).
- OCCASIONAL FLAG
- See commemorative flag.
- OFF-CENTRED
- A term used to describe the vertical arm of a cross that is not set on a flags vertical or
horizontal meridian see off-centred cross 2) below
(also off-set).
- OFF-CENTRED CROSS
- 1) Generically see Scandinavian Cross.
- 2) Specifically, a cross of the Scandinavian-type that is used on a flag
which is not from, or has no connection with that region, or whose vertical
arm may or may not be centred but whose
horizontal arm is closer to the top or bottom of the flag.
From left: Hong Kong Christians (fotw); Volyinia,, Ukraine (fotw); Thunstetten, Switzerland (fotw));
Flag of Vνdeς, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of Zdechovice; Czech Republic (fotw)
- OFF-SET
- The term used to describe a charge (or charges) or a stripe (or stripes) that is (or are) set
towards the hoist, fly, top or base of a flag, rather than lying on its vertical or horizontal meridian
(see also charge, meridian and
off-centred).
Civil Ensign of Israel (fotw); National Flag of the Cape Verde Islands (fotw)
Please note that this term should always be accompanied by a further description,
for example, off-set towards the hoist.
- OFFICERS FLAGS
- In US usage and some others, those flags that are flown by the past and present
officers of a club, especially of a yacht or boating club yacht officers flags
(but see also broad pennant 2)).
![[yacht commodore]](../images/v/vxt-d574.gif)
![[yacht vice commodore]](../images/v/vxt-d574a.gif)
![[yacht rear commodore]](../images/v/vxt-d574b.gif)
![[acht past commodore]](../images/v/vxt-d574c.gif)
From left: Yacht Commodore, US (fotw); Yacht Vice Commodore,
US (fotw); Yacht Rear Commodore, US (fotw); Yacht Past Commodore, US (fotw)
- OGIVAL
- A form of flag (now obsolete) or of a gonfalon, where the fly is rounded and comes to a point - boat-tailed or sheild-shaped
(see also engrailed fly, gonfalon 1),
and shield).
Flag of Persia c1350? (fotw); Gonfanon of Molise, Italy (official website)
- OLD GLORY
- 1) Generally a poetic nickname for the US national flag the Stars and Stripes (see
also Betsy Ross flag,
continental colours,
Franklin flag,
quincunx,
star-spangled banner and
stars and stripes).
- 2) Specifically referring to a US national flag bearing 34 stars and a small white anchor,
reputedly belonging to a Captain William Driver.
Captain Drivers Flag (fotw)
- ORARIUM
- See 'banderole 2)'.
- ONOMAST
- See name pennant.
- OPTICAL PROPORTIONS
- A term used when the relative dimensions of a series of stripes progressively
widen between the hoist and the fly in order to appear even when the flag is flying,
or where a charge is set slightly towards the hoist so that it appears to be centred
under the same circumstances two examples would be the national flag of France for
use at sea, and the federal service flag of Germany (see also
charge 1),
hoist,
fly,
proportions 2) and
stripe).
National Ensign of France (fotw); Federal Service Flag of Germany (fotw)
- OR
- A heraldic term for the metal gold, generally (but not invariably) shown as
yellow in flags, or sometimes as gold leaf or metallic paint, or in an embroidered
design, as gold thread (see also Appendix III
and rule of tincture).
- ORDINARY
- A heraldic term used to describe a simple charge on a shield or banner of
arms. The honourable (or main) ordinaries are said to be the chief, cross, pale,
saltire, fess, pile, chevron, quarter and bend, and whilst these terms are briefly
described separately herein, it is suggested that a suitable glossary or dictionary
of heraldry be consulted for full or further details.
- ORGANIZATIONAL COLOUR (or COLOR)
- See colour 2) and
colours 2).
- ORGANIZATIONAL FLAG
- 1) Generically, the flag of a non-profit making organization of national rather
than international significance, or of the national/district branch of an international
entity, for example the UK National Trust or the Boy Scouts of America (see also
international flag 1)).
- 2) Specifically, in US army usage see
parade flag (also colour 2)
and colours 2).
![[National Trust, UK]](../images/v/vxt-d575.gif)
![[Boy Scouts of America]](../images/v/vxt-d575a.gif)
From left: The National Trust, UK (Bartram); The Boy Scouts of
America, US (fotw)
- ORIFLAMME
- The gonfanon of St Denis, the war flag of medieval France and reputedly adapted
from that of Charlemagne. The exact design is uncertain and has been variously
described; however, it was almost certainly of red silk, possibly triple-tailed
and charged with a number of gold disks surrounded by red roses outlined in blue
the auriflamma (see also gonfanon).
![[Oriflamme interpretation]](../images/v/vxt-d229.gif)
One interpretation of the Oriflamme (CS)
- ORIGINAL FLAG
- See type flag.
- ORLE (or ORLED)
- 1) The heraldic term for a border that is inset from, and parallel to, the edges of a shield, banner
of arms or flag, and which may consist of an unbroken line or be made up by a number of separate charges
for example an orle of plates as illustrated below but see inset border
(also border, charge and
double-tressure).
- 2) See garland 1).
- 3) The heraldic term that also covers a series of charges in a circular (or near circular) pattern
inset from the edges of a shield, banner of arms or flag, for example an orle of
mullets and the European Union flag as illustrated below.
From left: Example; Rank Flag of a General Officer, Croatia (fotw), Flag of The Customs Administration, Turkey (fotw);
Example; Flag of the European Union (fotw)
Please note with regard to 1) that some heraldic writers would consider the inset
narrow border on the Turkish flag illustrated above as a tressure.
- ORTHOGONAL
- 1) (Adj) Generically a term meaning rectangular or pertaining to or involving right angles.
- 2) (Adj) In vexillology a term which may be used when the arms of a saltire or objects placed per
saltire - are set at right angles to each other (particularly when the flag upon which it
or they - appear is rectangular rather than square) (see also
per saltire and
saltire
- 3) (Adj) In vexillology the term may also be used when the fork in the fly of a swallow-tailed
flag forms a right angle at the crutch (see also crutch, and
and swallow-tail(ed)).
Flag of Nonince, Slovakia (fotw); House Flag of the British India Steam Navigation Co, UK (CS)
- OUTER EDGE
- A term that may be used in describing the edge of a hanging flag that is closest to the truck, and equivalent
to the top edge of a conventionally hoisted flag (see also hanging flag)
Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no established
alternative could be found.
- OUTRIGGER FLAG
- In German speaking, Central European and some other usage, the term
and a direct translation of the German auslegerflagge - which covers a
long vertically orientated (often but by no means invariably) commercial flag that is
fixed both along its hoist to the flagpole and along
the top edge to a horizontal arm - but see also
framed flag 1) (also
banner 2),
hanging flag and
vertically hoisted flag).
Please note that this type of flag is also a framed flag,
that the term used here is a direct translation of the German auslegerflagge,
and should not be confused with a flag hung from an outrigger pole.
- OUTRIGGER POLE
- The term for a flagpole that projects from the side of a building at an upward
angle, usually equipped with a halyard but is sometimes removable and fitted with
clips to attach the flag directly (see also halyard
and tangle rod).
- OVERALL (or OVER ALL)
- 1) On flags, a term used when a charge (generally but not exclusively reaching the
edges of the flag) is placed over another design, as in for example, the bend on the
Artigas flag of Uruguay (see also charge).
- 2) In heraldry, the term can be used when a charge is placed over other charges,
or over a parti-coloured field, or when an escutcheon is placed over four or more quarters
but see surmounted, by (also
escutcheon,
debruised,
inescutcheon and
quarter).
From left: The Artigas Flag, Uruguay (fotw); Shield (CS)
Please note not to be confused with dressing overall
(see dress ship).
- OWNER ABSENT FLAG
- In US usage the practice, almost certainly obsolete, of flying a plain blue flag
from the starboard yardarm (or spreader) of a pleasure vessel when the owner is absent
an absence pennant (see also
dinner flag,
guest on board flag,
meal pennant and
yardarm).
Owner Absent Flag, US (fotw)
