Dictionary of Vexillology: M (Middle Arms – Mizzen) (original) (raw)

MIDDLE ARMS

See under ‘arms’.

Middle Arms of Bremen, Germany

MILITARY BANNER

See ‘banner 6)’ (also ‘sovereign’s banner’).

Commander in Chief banner, Canada

MILITARY COLOURS (or COLORS)

See ‘colour 2)’ and ‘colours 2)’.

Regimental Colour and Queen's colour, 1st Battalion of The Black Watch (Graham Bartram)

MILITARY CREST

In largely US usage, the term for that emblem which is displayed by units of the National Guard, and usually taken from symbols contained within the flags, seals and/or coats of arms of the relevant state – a state military crest (see also ‘badge 3)’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘crest 1)’, ‘emblem, military and governmental/departmental’, ‘seal’ and ‘state flag 2)’ and ‘wreath 2)’).

Military Crests of Alabama, Texas and Mississippi, US

MILITARY EMBLEM

See ‘emblem, military and governmental/departmental’ under ‘emblem’.

Flag/Emblem, People's Defence Force, Tanzania;Army Badge, RSA; Flag/Emblem, Air Force, Ukraine

MILITARY FLAGS

The general heading under which all the various flags, banners, pennants and colours relating to the military establishment of any particular country, countries or entity are listed – see ‘colour 2)’.

Armed Forces flag, Kyrgyzstan;Army Flag, UK; Flag of the Military Academy, Pakistan

MILLRIND (MILLRINE, MILL-INK or MILL-IRONS)

The alternative heraldic terms for a charge usually (but not invariably) in the form of a curved or wavy X, and meant to represent a mill bearing – a fer de moline, millrine, mill-ink or mill-irons (see also ‘millstone’).

Flag of Göttingen County 1955–1973, Germany; Flag of Orthen, Netherlands; Flag of Borken County 1979–1984, Germany

MILLSTONE (or MILL-STONE)

The term for a representation of the large circular stone used for the grinding of wheat or other cereal by water- or windmill, and usually (but not invariably) shown with a square or notched hole in its centre and sometimes radiating ridges – a mill-stone, grind-wheel, grindwheel or grindstone – see ‘waterwheel’ (also ‘millrind’ and ‘windmill’).

Flag of Sazes do Lorvão, Portugal; Flag of Choltice, Czechia; Flag of Rebolosa, Portugal

MILLWHEEL (or MILL-WHEEL)

See ‘waterwheel’.

Arms and Flag of Veliki Grđevac, Croatia

MIRROR IMAGE

The term used when the reverse of a flag is a reflected duplication of the obverse (as seen as in a mirror), and the default assumption in most cases – but see ‘double-sided 1)’ and ‘two-sided 1)’ (also ‘obverse’ and ‘reverse’).

Obverse and Reverse of the Civil Ensign of Fiji

MITRE

In some Christian usage the ceremonial head covering of a prelate (see also ‘crozier’ and ‘stringed’).

Flag of Bennau, Switzerland; Flag Bützow, Germany; Flag of La Rippe, Switzerland

MIXED TINCTURES

In heraldry there are two mixed tinctures, they are brunatre (brown) and tenne (orange) – auxiliary colours – see ‘tinctures’.

Brunatre and Tenne

MIZZEN (or MIZZEN MAST)

The aftermost mast in a sailing vessel with three masts (and on a two masted vessel dependent upon the rig) from which the gaff is rigged – but see mizzen, at the (see also foremast, gaff, mainmast, mast and masthead).

MIZZEN, AT THE

(adv) The phrase used when a flag is flown from the ruck of the aftermost mast of a three masted sailing warship – see "mizzen" (above) (also masthead and truck).

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Flag of a Rear-Admiral 1864–1898, UK

Please note that in the sailing/steam-assisted navy, the command flag of a rear-admiral was formerly flown in this position (also balls of difference, flag of command and flagship)